Savabeel filly set to star in stakes company

Amarelinha holds Group 1 nominations and the Savabeel filly took an impressive step toward loftier targets with success at Ellerslie today.

Narrowly beaten on debut, the Jamie Richards-trained 3-year-old had the necessary quality to overcome a horror gate over 1300 metres to open her account.

Entered in the G1 Levin Classic and the G1 New Zealand Oaks, the Waikato Stud-bred and sold Amarelinha was caught wide early before settling midfield one off the fence and let down powerfully in the straight to open her account.

She was offered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale where she was purchased by Te Akau chief David Ellis for $300,000.

The filly is a daughter of the unraced O’Reilly mare Hopscotch who is from a well-performed family of the Matamata farm as she’s a half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Metal Bender.

The G1 Goodwood Handicap winner and successful sire Keeper also features on the pedigree page, as does the G3 Auries Star Handicap winner Broken.