On a champagne day's racing, the spotlight shone brightly on West Australian superstar Amelia's Jewel at her eastern states debut in the Group II Furphy Let's Elope Stakes (1400m), and she let no one down.
With Damian Lane in the saddle for Simon Miller, the daughter of Siyouni was allowed to drift back to the rear of the field from an outside gate. Moving smoothly up to a challenging position on the turn, Amelia's Jewel eased out into clean air. With a lapful of horse, Lane shook the reins at Amelia's Jewel, and it was all over.
The 3-year-old filly seemed to switch off when hitting the front, and the Tavistock mare Life Lessons rallied to finish a length back in second, with the Shamus Award mare El Patroness taking all the shortcuts home to finish a half-length back in third.
The winner of the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot in December, Amelia's Jewel was racing for the first time since being edged out by Overpass in the $4million The Quokka at Ascot on April 15.
The Peter Walsh homebred advances her record to eight wins and two seconds with earnings of $2,51,3600.
"It was pretty cool; I suppose the exciting thing from our point of view is she's not screwed down yet, so we've got plenty of wiggle room to go," Miller said.
"This is just a nice starting point for her, and when he (Lane) hadn't moved on straightening, I was like 'this is an easy watch'. Without being arrogant, he hasn't gone full throttle, so I thought, 'at least we're going to be in the finish' but it's good to come home and see all the family and friends. I'm on an early flight out tomorrow so we'll see what happens.
"I'll know once we go back and take her heart rate and see where she's at; that's probably our best gauge; it's unbelievable. Lee Jordan and Bec have helped us out heaps, and Nick Ryan, he's putting up with us, he's a good man. I'm so proud of her and proud of my staff, they do an amazing job. I've had a really good support crew here and back home, so we should just be able to keep flowing through.
This one's for Harold, who passed away during the week. When I was strapping way back I used to come through Flemington and Moonee Valley gates, and he was on the gate there. He was a legend, so that one's for him."
A daughter of champion French stallion Siyouni (FR), Amelia's Jewel is the first foal of the stakes placed Canford Cliffs mare Bumbasina (IRE), who was a 75,000 guineas purchase for Louis Le Metayer's Astute Bloodstock at the 2019 Tattersalls July Sale.
Walsh sent Bumbasina to the Haras de Bonneval stallion to be mated to southern hemisphere time. She is a half-sister to Group II winner Epona Plays (Australia) and Group III winner Dolce Strega (Zoffany). She has a 2yo colt by Merchant Navy, which topped Magic Millions Perth Book 2, selling for $160,000. He has been named True Heroes and is in training with Sean and Jake Casey.
Bumbasina's colt by Blue Point (IRE) was a $900,000 purchase for Rosemont Alliance/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/Annabel Neasham Racing Pty Ltd from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale in January.
Named Bosustow, the powerfully made colt has been ebtered in the opening heat at Monday's 2yo trials at Randwick.
After missing in 2021, Bumbasina (IRE) boarded the plane to France last May for another date with Siyouni (FR), again to southern hemisphere time.
