Champion trainer Chris Waller prepared her sire Zousain and grand-sire Zoustar, so it’s not surprising he’s getting the best from talented filly Amelita, who powered to the line on Oaks Day at Flemington to win the $300,000 Group III VRC Red Roses Stakes (1100m).
Unplaced in two starts at two, Amelita is improving with maturity and won at Canterbury when resuming from a spell in September before running second in a Benchmark 68 race at Warwick Farm last month.
James McDonald has been on her in her past two starts and kept the ride for her first try at Black Type, allowing the filly to find her feet and move across the track from her inside draw and she surged to the line to win by three-quarters of a length.
“James got her to settle early and she was very strong late,” said Chris Waller.
“She’s really come of age this prep and is still very lightly raced. I don’t think we’ll go any further for now, we’ll give her a holiday and she can keep growing and developing. I think she has a nice future.”
A $280,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Edinglassie Stud draft for Magic Bloodstock/Noel & Maria Greenhalgh/Julia Ritchie/Neil Werrett, Amelita has won two of five starts earning more than $250,000 in prizemoney.
Amelita was bred by Richard Pegum and is the first winner for Miss Amelia, a winning More Than Ready (USA) mare from Group II ATC Silver Slipper winner Amelia’s Dream.
Amelita has a two year-old full brother that was sold at Magic Millions this year for $200,000 to John O'Shea Racing/James Bester Bloodstock and she has another filly to follow by Zousain and was covered by him again last spring.
Amelita is the second stakes-winner for Zousain, who stands at Widden Stud at a fee of $27,500.
