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Dual Group 2 winner to stick to Oaks path and will not be entered in the Derby

Dual Group 2 winner Amarelinha (Savabeel) will not be entered in the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) and instead stick on a path to the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) at Trentham on March 20. 

Te Akau boss David Ellis confirmed the Jamie Richards-trained filly will use the Sunline Vase (Gr 3, 2100m) at Ellerslie on March 6 as her final lead-up towards the Group 1. 

“In general terms, I am a fan of running the fillies in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series where possible,” Ellis said.

“I think that they are better placed and they have got the rest of their career to go on as four and five-year-olds and race against the colts and the geldings.

“Amarelinha might be a Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate mare in the spring and I want to win the Filly of the Year Series and turn her into a top broodmare in years to come.”

Ellis indicated a tilt at the Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) on April 10 was very much on the cards for the filly. 

“After the New Zealand Oaks we will give serious consideration to taking her to Sydney for the Australian Oaks,” Ellis said.

“We would go straight into the Oaks over there, but she would have to do everything 100 per cent for that to happen, but it is certainly what her goal is.”

Meanwhile, multiple Group 1-winning Avantage (Fastnet Rock) can bolster her prospects of a Group 1 tilt across the Tasman when she contests Saturday’s El Cheapo Cars Weight-For-Age Classic (Gr 1, 1600m) at Otaki.

The five-year-old mare is the first horse to ever win New Zealand’s three major sprint races in one season, having completed the Railway Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), Telegraph Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and Waikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) treble at her past three starts.

“(In order to look at Australia) She has got to win well and we will probably run her in the Bonecrusher on March 13) and then Jamie and I will sit down and have a chat and make up our mind whether we go to Sydney or go to Brisbane,” Ellis said.

“There are a couple of really nice options in Brisbane and she has won a Group 1 at 1200 metres, 1400 metres, 1600 metres and 2000 metres, so that is pretty incredible and shows her versatility.”