While outstanding Western Australian mare, Amelia’s Jewel,is poised to hopefully enter racing record books in the next six weeks, her appearance in Friday night’s Stocks Stakes will not be a betting milestone.
However, in 2013 the high-class mare Atlantic Jewel, easily took out the group two event and was installed as a Cox Plate favourite following her performance and she started at the prohibitive $1.06.
The Simon Miller trained, Amelia’s Jewel, is currently $1.30 favourite to win her second Victorian race.
Over the years since the inception of the race in 1980, Hazy Pond in 1988 at $1.50 was successful as was I Am A Star in 2018 and was successful at $1.65.
The only blemish came in 2014 when Commanding Jewel finished third at $1.75.
Amelia’s Jewel’s owner, Peter Walsh, who is based in Western Australia said that he was excited about his mare’s appearance for two reasons on Friday.
“I’ve never been to Moonee Valley. I’ve been following races for 50 years so it’s going to be a bit of a thrill to walk in the gates over there and to have such an outstanding mare performing for me.
“I suppose on Saturday morning we’ll have a conference about where she’s going for her next few starts but I generally leave that to Simon (Miller),” Walsh said.
While Amelia’s Jewel prepares for her exciting Spring Carnival one record that could be shattered is in Sydney on Saturday afternoon is when the former English galloper Just Fine tackles the group one Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick.
If Just Fine is successful on its pathway to the Melbourne Cup he will be the first horse in the race’s history, of over a century, to start at odds on of $1.75.
No horse in the 2400 metre event has ever started at odds on with five even money favourites in which two of them were successful.
The Metropolitan could again be a handy yardstick for the big Cup races, however, Just Fine looks to have a stranglehold on the race and if successful will find it’s way into the record books.