Victorian raider Ameena has put the writing on the wall for a fruitful spring, finishing powerfully to win a competitive Silver Shadow Stakes in a driving finish.
With less than a length separating the first five fillies across the line, Ameena ($4.80) arrived just in time to nail Silmarillion ($21) by a short half-head with topweight Manaal ($2.05 betting Australia fav) another head away third.
The victory made amends for Ameena’s luckless performance in the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) in April, her only unplaced effort in four starts prior to Saturday.
“We have liked her pretty much from day one,” co-trainer Anthony Freedman said.
“She was very unlucky here in the autumn, she nearly went through the rail, it was all of her own doing, but it was good to see her bounce back.”
Stood down from riding in race two after hurting his ankle in the opening event,James Mcdonald recovered to fulfill his remaining engagements and was at his vigorous best aboard Ameena over the concluding stages.
The Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) was his first win for the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable and he was happy to get the monkey off his back.
“Lucky I didn’t stand down,” McDonald quipped.
“She was a nice filly when I rode her (in the autumn), so it wasn’t going to take much to improve her. It was a really nice win today.”
For Freedman, the race also gave his filly an opportunity to show another string to her bow.
The previous times she had finished in the top two, she had raced on-speed but she came from back in the field on Saturday.
“She won her first two starts leading or right on pace. I have never really thought that is how she would race, but that opens up some options for us,” he said.
Freedman didn’t confirm plans for Ameena but expected her to stretch to 1400m, opening the door for her to tackle the next two races in the Princess Series, the Furious (1200m) and Tea Rose Stakes (1200m).
Jason Collett said Manaal did an enormous job to get so close considering she was conceding three kilos to most of her rivals.
“She had a few more kilos than the other runners and was first-up too, so there is improvement to come. I was happy with the run,” Collett said.