The Emirates Park colours were carried to victory at Canterbury on Wednesday by exciting three year-old Justify (USA) filly Amreekiyah, who produced a dazzling finishing burst to keep her unbeaten record intact.
Trained by Peter Snowden, Amreekiyah won her first two starts earlier this year at Kembla and Newcastle and was first up from a spell in the Benchmark 64 event over 1250m.
Carrying 61.5kg, Amreekiyah jumped well enough for Kerrin McEvoy, but drifted back and had to come wide in the straight to make her run. She let down with great determination and flew past her rivals to win by half a length.
“I can't wait to get her up in trip to at least 1500m next time and probably a mile after that,” said Peter Snowden.
“There is plenty more to come with her as she is still very raw and she has so much potential.
“It’s good to see her do something special today as she has been showing us for a while at home that she is a bit above average.
“To do what she did with 61.5kg on her back and give them five lengths start on a day when it’s been hard to make up ground isn’t easy, but she made it look easy.”
A $420,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Emirates Park / Snowden Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock from the Coolmore draft, Amreekiyah runs for Emirates Park and various Snowden stable clients.
Bred by Morning Rise Stud, she is a half-sister to Group II winner Yaletown and is the second winner from multiple Group placed stakes-winner Marianne (NZ), a Darci Brahma mare from the family of current stakes-winner Prairie Flower.
Coolmore sold a full sister to Amreekiyah at Inglis Easter last year for $800,000 and they also sold a yearling half-sister by Home Affairs as agent for Morning Rise Stud this year for $300,000 to Snowden Racing.
Marianne produced another filly last year by Justify, who has two sons on the Coolmore roster this spring in 2024 European Horse of the Year City of Troy (IRE) at $49,500 and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Storm Boy at $16,500.
