An Australian bred winning over 2500 metres is a rarity nowadays, so take a bow champion trainer Darren Weir and Vinery Stud's veteran Testa Rossa after 6yo mare Amelie's Star booked her place in the Melbourne Cup when turning back the challenge of six European imports in Saturday's $300,000 Group III The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington.
Ridden by Damian Lane, raced in third and fourth place as Granddukeoftuscany (IRE) set a solid tempo.
Quickening impressively when mounting her challenge Amelie's Star defeated the rallying Granddukeoftuscany (IRE) by two lengths with Kellstorm (IRE) a short-head back in third with Melbourne Cup favourite Almandin (GER) fourth and Harlem (GB) fifth. (photo Grant Courtney).
"Her record suggested the step up in distance today was going to be a big plus," Weir said.
"Barriers are a big thing in racing and we got the bad barrier last start where we had to go back and got in a position where it was mathematically impossible to win.
"Today from the good draw the plan was to race in the first half and got the best run of any horse in the race and got the result.
"She's very sound, got lots and lots of miles in her legs so we need to get things right between now and the Melbourne Cup and you never know what will happen.
Winner of the Group III Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) back in September 2015 when trained by Peter Moody, an injury saw the daughter of Testa Rossa off the scene for 18 months after that run.
Switched to Darren Weir, Amelie's Star won the Group II Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville back in May.
With her third stakes win, Amelie's Star advances her overall record to 6 wins, 2 seconds and 2 third from 17 starts with earnings of $340,935.
A homebred for Patrick Hodgens, Amelie's Star is the fourth foal of the Zabeel mare Zazita, which Hodgens had bought at the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale for $130,000.
A year after foaling Amelie's Star, Zarita produced the very handy Mossman filly Honey Cara, a recent winner at Moonee Valley and Flemington.
But Zazita has had a troubled history in the past few years.
She missed to Smart Missile in 2012 then did not hold to Smart Missile and Pluck (USA) in 2013 and slipped to Husson (ARG) in 2014.
In 2016 Zarita produced a filly by German import Illo who now stands in China.
Zarita was covered by ATC Australian Derby winner Nom Du Jeu last spring.
