Best Mare Miler?
I wrote during the week that many would consider Fangirl to be the top 1600m mare in the country, and on peak rating that still holds true. But put Amelia's Jewel and Fangirl in a race and I daresay bookmakers and punters alike are marking the former favourite.
The Simon A Miller trained filly did what she had to in Saturday's Group 1 Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) but she's still run to a slight new peak with Timeform at 115, up one pound. That's mainly due to the fact she was a four-year-old mare giving 3.5kg to the older placegetters rather than just noting she's beaten Life Lessons by a length.
It wasn't the strongest field on Saturday- the five year winning average prior was just shy of 108 but she's still rounded them up comfortably from back in the field, seemingly with plenty up her sleeve.
Now rated 115, she's just two pounds shy of Fangirl at 117 who only ran to 109 in Saturday's 7 Stakes, albeit in a horrendously slow race with no chance of winning.
Amelia's Jewel still hasn't put up that 'wow' performance for me. She's done plenty right, and each time she steps out she makes some small step, but I think everyone's waiting (and expecting) something special this preparation. You'd love to see her go to the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m), idle up at the 500m around the bend at The Valley and really stamp herself.
Final Flight Trials
The penultimate race of the Princess Series took place at Randwick on Saturday with Tiz Invincible remaining unbeaten this preparation, taking out the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
After her first up win in the Listed Rosebud (1100m) I thought the different form would be key through this series but to her credit she's won her next two and will very likely start favourite in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) in a couple of weeks.
A bit like with Cylinder in the Golden Rose, I get the vibe that different form could be key, but there isn't really any different form to latch onto, which is fairly consistent with this series- most of the fillies race throughout it and the better ones are quickly established.
That said, Tiz Invincible (110) is a below average winner of the Tea Rose. In the past five years only Four Moves Ahead (107) has rated lower to win the race. Dame Giselle (113) sits just behind Zougotcha, Funstar and Miss Fabulass all at 114.
The small knock on Tiz Invincible is that Four Moves Ahead was also the worst result in the Flight of those five fillies, regressing by nine pounds and only managing sixth.
If you were looking for the one out of the Tea Rose that might be able to turn the tables, French Endeavour could be the one. She ran on well for third but only come home 0.03 seconds faster than the winner so it's hardly like she was taking stacks of ground off her. Still, $21 vs. $2.80 is too big a discrepancy in that regard and not a bad bet all-in.
At Flemington, I (and the punters) were confident Legacies would be the one to challenge the Sydney fillies.
She was only rated five pounds off Tiz Invincible at her second start when winning the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) and I thought she was very good first up behind Veight. She's rated ten pounds off what she did first up in Saturday's Listed Exford Plate (1400m).
She sat close to a fairly good speed and perhaps being exposed so long into a headwind was detrimental but you'd have liked to see her overcome that if she's to be winning a Group 1 in two weeks.
If the market completely deserts her in Sydney (assuming they still go there) she might be worth keeping safe but at this time, it's tough to see who turns the tables on Tiz.
