Archibald and Annabel Neasham are optimistic as Amelia’s Jewel gears up for her return in the Guy Walter Stakes (1400m), aiming to secure a long-awaited victory.
Since joining their stable a year ago, Amelia’s Jewel has performed consistently but has yet to achieve a breakthrough win. Competing in Sydney and Melbourne five times, she never finished worse than fifth and added three black-type placings to her record.
She immediately made an impact under new training, finishing second in the Tramway (1400m), followed by another runner-up finish in the Golden Pendant (1400m). In the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, she narrowly lost to Atishu.
After completing two trials, Archibald believes Amelia’s Jewel is well-prepared to take on eight competitors in the Guy Walter Stakes.
“She’s looking fantastic and has had a smooth preparation,” Archibald shared on Tabradio. “Her trials were strong, and the whole team is happy with her progress.”
“She’s moving beautifully, and from our perspective, we’re expecting a solid first-up performance this Saturday.”
Archibald remains open regarding future plans for Amelia’s Jewel beyond this race.
“She has multiple options ahead,” he said. “Potential races include the Coolmore, the Doncaster Prelude, or even the Doncaster itself. We’ll see how she performs this weekend before making any decisions.”
James McDonald will be the latest top jockey to ride Amelia’s Jewel, following Pat Carbery, Damian Lane, Tommy Berry, and Jamie Melham. She has drawn barrier eight.
“Saturday will give us a better indication of where she’s at,” Archibald said. “She’s in excellent order, so there won’t be any excuses.”
The Guy Walter Stakes also features Alsephina, who makes her return after a successful Melbourne campaign last year.
Trained by Grant and Alana Williams, Alsephina’s highlight was winning the Group 2 Stock Stakes (1514m) at Moonee Valley, along with a third-place finish in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) and a strong run in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m).
Current betting sites odds place Amelia’s Jewel as the $2.40 favorite, with Alsephina at $3.90.
Alsephina will break from barrier five, with Kerryn McEvoy in the saddle.
