Amarelinha shines again in Sunline Vase victory

Star Waikato Stud graduate Amarelinha overcame a tough run to add the G3 McKee Family Sunline Vase at Ellerslie to her burgeoning record.

The Savabeel 3-year-old settled in midfield and one of the fence, but was continually pushed wide when rider Opie Bosson asked her 800 metres from home to close in on the leaders.

Amarelinha was still able to produce a sustained finish that saw her grab victory on the post and further emphasise she is the filly to beat in upcoming G1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.

“I’m relieved and it was unfortunate that when Opie got mobile they all kicked up inside of him and she was very, very wide from the 800,” trainer Jamie Richards said.

“I liked the way she pinned her ears back and really proud of her. She’s got some improvement to come so we’ll head to Wellington next with confidence.”

Bosson was confident Amarelinha had got in the deciding stride and said she would be more effective on drier ground.

“I thought I had got there on the line and glad that I got up. It was a very good effort and she will be a lot better on a better track. 

The winner of four of her six starts, Amarelinha was bred by Waikato Stud and sold to David Ellis for $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.