Chris Waller was back in the winner’s stall on a big day with colours he will forever be associated with after Amelita continued her progression with a maiden Stakes win in the Red Roses Stakes at Flemington on Oaks Day.
The three-year-old claimed the $300,000 Group 3 at just her fifth start, and two starts after breaking her maiden at Canterbury on a Wednesday, when the beneficiary of magical James Mcdonald ride in the 1100-metre event.
Amelita is raced by a group headed up by Peter Tighe, meaning she carries the blue and white Magic Bloodstock colours that Winx also raced under, and Waller always gets a kick of seeing them in the winner’s stall.
“It’s very special to me, Peter Tighe and ourselves got a group together and there’s some really nice owners in it,” Waller said.
“People love having runners Cup Week, so if you can find a horse that has got a nice progression forward and can come down here when they’re not burnt out, that’s a big help.”
Winx is most famous for her four Cox Plate wins at Moonee Valley, but she was also a dual winner of the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
McDonald weaved a path through the field from the inside barrier aboard the $11 betting app chance to reel in his rivals in the final furlong of the Red Roses Stakes and race away for a three-quarters-of-a-length win over Vestas ($6.50), who nosed out Bridal Waltz ($13) for second placing.
It was McDonald’s sixth win of the Melbourne Cup Carnival after a Derby Day treble and two early wins on Melbourne Cup Day and a fourth Cup Week win for Waller.
Amelita, a daughter of Zoustar’s son Zousain, failed to place in two starts in late-autumn but has come back a much better horse in spring and has Waller excited about what is to come.
“There was enough confidence to down come here with her and pick up a nice race to up her value and most importantly to give her some confidence,” Waller, who celebrated his first win in the Red Roses Stakes, said.
“We see her as a nice filly going forward by Zousain, who I trained – a son of Zoustar, so it’s a bit of a family affair.”