Amade (IRE) gave the field a minimum 5kgs and a four-length start and still emerged victorious in Sunday’s Listed Sportsbet Sandown Cup (3200m) at Sandown-Lakeside, completing a fantastic weekend for OTI Racing after Warmonger’s romp in the Group 1 Queensland Derby and Hezashocka claiming the Group III Premier’s Cup at Eagle Farm.
The 10-year-old gelding rarely makes it easy on himself, and once again, he was sluggish out of the barriers but quickly tacked on.
Set alight by Daniel Stackhouse on straightening, Amade (IRE) left little doubt he was the superior stayer when hitting the line strongly to defeat the 7-year-old Fiorente gelding Ferago by one and three-quarter lengths with the Strawberry Rock (Rock Of Gibraltar) back in third.
A loyal servant to the Phillip Stokes stable, the son of Casamento (IRE) advances his record to 11 wins, three seconds, and four thirds from 34 starts with earnings of $1,200,346.
“I don’t think he missed it too bad, and luckily, the speed was not on, so he did not have to make up too much ground in the early stages,” Stackhouse said.
“He switched off, got in a nice rhythm, and surprised me with the ease he picked them up and was going to win from a long way out.”
Bred in Ireland by Eamonn Mcevoy, Amade (IRE) is a half-brother to the Group III Sandown Stakes winner Nakuti (Mastercraftsman).
He is one of five winners from eight to race for the Five Star Day mare Sheba Five, a half-sister to stakes-winners On My Dime and Arch Rebel.
After beginning his career at Darley, Casamento (Shamardal) died at the age of twelve at Sunnyhill Stud, Ireland. He had previous success in Australia with Kings Will Dream.
