Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
After he saw his narrow favourite Capital Heart (Capitalist) overturned in the colts’ 1000-metre maiden at Randwick-Kensington, 35 minutes later John O’Shea was celebrating victory in the fillies’ version. It was a debut success full of promise for Captain Amelia (Dundeel {NZ}), who found the line well having only grabbed the lead in the final 50 metres.
Not necessarily expecting a win, it was the style of run predicted by her trainer, and a performance that left him full of praise.
“I’ll have to hand my tipping licence in,” O’Shea said. “I thought they’d be too sharp for her today, but one thing I’ve learned in my time is that good horses do good things on their first start, irrespective of what you think.
“... one thing I’ve learned in my time is that good horses do good things on their first start, irrespective of what you think.” - John O'Shea
“We’ve always thought extremely highly of her, but you could see there today she didn’t quite know what to do around the turn… she’s got a really bright future.”
O’Shea pointed to the G2 Percy Sykes S. as a possible target for the filly, adding that she’d likely benefit from some cut in the ground.
“She was still very green, which we expected I suppose because she’s only had one trial,” winning rider James McDonald said. “She’s progressed beautifully since then and she’ll only progress from here.”
Co-bred by Ken and Maree Lowe’s Carpe Diem and Grant Bloodstock, the latter headed by Steve Grant of Silverdale Farm, Captain Amelia was sold through Silverdale’s draft to her trainer at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $160,000, with both breeders retaining a share.
The mooted Percy Sykes is in the family, with Captain Amelia’s dam, Courageous Kitty (Fastnet Rock) being a sister to Anaheed, a previous winner of the race. The unraced Courageous Kitty is also a half-sister to stakes scorer Farooq (Frankel {GB}), and gained a second winner as a producer, following Captain Amelia’s half-sister Intrepidacious (Shooting to Win), also a Listed placegetter.
Captain Amelia became Dundeel’s (NZ) fourth juvenile winner for the season and yet another for Fastnet Rock as a broodmare sire, who is now six winners away from reaching a double century as a damsire for the third season in a row in Australia.
Captain Amelia as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Wednesday double for Deep Field
Sneaking over to New Zealand to take up three rides in feature races last weekend, Andrew Adkins had no luck there but returned to the winners' enclosure in Australia on Wednesday aboard the Les Bridge-trained Sports Legend (Deep Field) in an 1100-metre maiden at Randwick-Kensington.
It was a long-promised debut success for the 3-year-old gelding, who won both his trials as a late-season juvenile but failed in two attempts in maidens subsequently. Returning to action this year he again took out a pair of trials, but only finished third in a small field at Hawkesbury on February 14.
Andrew Atkins guides Sports Legend to the line to win at Randwick-Kensington | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
There was no mistaking his ability on Wednesday though, as he scored an all-the-way win under Adkins, coming home 1.43l the better of Annabel Neasham’s Chartwell (Churchill {Ire}).
“He was too good today, and it was good to see him put the writing on the wall,” Adkins said. “I worked him through the week and he worked exceptionally well.
“Things certainly suited, he got a really nice time in front. When he broke well I was happy to use his speed and I think that was a turning point for him.”
“Things certainly suited, he (Sports Legend) got a really nice time in front. When he broke well I was happy to use his speed and I think that was a turning point for him.” - Andrew Adkins
Running in the familiar white and red of Legend Racing, Sports Legend was a $200,000 purchase by Bon Ho at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Newgate Farm. He is out of the R. Listed Inglis Classic winner Twist Tops (Beneteau) and from the extended family of G1 Australasian Oaks winner Irish Darling (Ivory's Irish).
It was a double for Deep Field on Wednesday, who only half an hour earlier had marked an initial success for the afternoon at Sandown-Lakeside courtesy of the Matt Laurie-trained Irish Crickets. It was a similar style of success for the 3-year-old gelding, who led from start to finish under Ben Melham, scoring by 2.75l over Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s debutante Parabellum (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
With both Deep Field 3-year-olds breaking their maidens, the Newgate Farm resident’s seasonal tally moved up to 93 winners in Australia.
