The Chris Waller-trained Pretty Amazing earned a shot at the ATC Australian Oaks after the daughter of American Pharoah (USA) came with a barnstorming finish in Friday’s $200,000 Group III Carlton Draught Kembla Grange Classic (1600m) at Goulburn.
Given a stone-cold ride by Tommy Berry, Pretty Amazing came with a sweeping run from the tail of the field to overpower the Dundeel filly Hope In Your Heart by a length with the Rip Van Winkle (IRE) filly Gin Martini a further half-length back in third.
It was the third consecutive win for Pretty Amazing, who broke her maiden at start two at Newcastle before another dominant performance over 1550m at Canterbury on February 18.
“She is probably going to get over a bit further than this. She is a real Oaks type of filly, so this is distance is getting her nicely prepared,” stable representative Jack Pilkington said.
“She relaxes beautifully, moves beautifully and lets down really well. “She is putting it altogether nicely now and building in to what could be a good autumn for her.
“She is docile, so relaxed about everything. The more she has grown in confidence, the more she has relaxed.
“It’s onwards and upwards from here.”
Tommy Berry said he thought he was on the winner when heading to the start.
“She is only lightly raced but was very impressive the other day at Canterbury in very good time,” Berry said.
“It’s not too often on heavy tracks that you get to the gates and think I am on a winner.
“She just ploughed through on the way to the gates, and I was very confident.
“The wet tracks are likely to stick around for most of the autumn. So that is going to be in her favour now. She has ticked that box.
“She a Rolls Roycer.”
Pretty Amazing credited blue hen Pretty Penny with a fifth stakes-winner and an unbelievable eighth stakes horse from as many foals.
She is a half-sister to Group winners and Group 1 placegetters Sertorius, Pretty Brazen and Dollar for Dollar, and ill-fated Group III winner Clifton Red and stakes-placed Rezealient, I Am Titanium and Fortune of War.
A daughter of Encosta de Lago, Pretty Penny was bought for Denis and Claire O’Brien by Colm Santry at the 2016 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale for $570,000.
Pretty Penny has an unraced two-year-old full sister to Pretty Amazing called Pretty Awesome and produced her final foal last year, a colt by Everest hero Yes Yes Yes.
Pretty Amazing is the second stakes-winner in Australia for Coolmore Stud’s triple Crown hero American Pharoah (USA) after Group III ATC Gloaming Stakes winner Head Of State.
