Ridgemont Highlands’ five-time G1 winning stallion Canford Cliffs is broodmare sire of a real Australian star in the form of Amelia’s Jewel.
The latter, a daughter of Canford Cliffs mare Bumbasina, cemented her place at the top of betting for The Quokka with a comfortable first-up victory at Ascot on Saturday. The Quokka, held over 1200m under weight-for-age conditions at Ascot on April 15, carries prizemoney of $4 million, with slot holders outlaying $200,000 plus GST for one of 14 spots in the field.
Amelia’s Jewel successfully resumed in Saturday’s G3 PFK Roma Cup (1100m), scoring by a length from Quokka rival Red Can Man. Patrick Carbery rode the perfect race on Amelia’s Jewel from barrier two, settling midfield and getting an unimpeded run into the home straight. Carbery has ridden Amelia’s Jewel at each of her eight starts for seven wins and one second
Classy three-year-old Amelia’s Jewel ended her two-year-old season by winning Western Australia’s premier juvenile race, the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) last April. Her previous racing campaign culminated with victories in the G2 WA Guineas (1600m) and G1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) against older rivals.
Her broodmare sire Canford Cliffs made a pleasing start with his first South African crop headed by G1 Thekwini Stakes runner-up Rock The Fox and Listed City Of Cape Town Summer Juvenile Stakes/Listed East Cape Nursery winner Cliff Top.
The former Irish 2000 Guineas winner has 13 lots on offer at this month’s National Yearling Sale.