Amarelinha shows her star quality

Waikato Stud graduate Amarelinha produced a sizzling display at Te Rapa to romp away with the G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic.

Such was the dominance of the Savabeel 3-year-old’s performance that she is now a $1.80 favourite to go to the next level and claim the upcoming G1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.

The Jamie Richards-trained Amarelinha settled in the trail for rider Danielle Johnson and once she angled into the clear 250 metres from home the filly accelerated rapidly to coast home by 4.5L.

“She is a really exciting filly and one we have held in high regard right from the time that David bought her at Karaka,” he said.

“She reminded us a lot of Probabeel and we didn’t race her as a 2-year-old, mainly due to copping COVID-19 at the back end of the season.

“She has more than made up for that this time in, as that was a pretty exciting win.”
Johnson said she had to be patient in the straight, but once into the open the issue was quickly beyond doubt.

“I just needed to bide my time a little as Leith (Innes) on Sweet Anna is not one you can just push out of the way,” Johnson said.

“She has just brained them and was just too good. Her work prior to today was excellent and I knew she would run well on that.”

Amarelinha was bred by Waikato Stud and sold by the Matamata farm to David Ellis for NZ$300,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.

She is a daughter of the unraced O’Reilly mare Hopscotch (NZ) and she is a half-sister to Metal Bender, successful four times at G1 level.

It is also notably the family of the G1 Goodwood H. winner Keeper, who sired six individual G1 winners.