Amelia’s Jewel faces the biggest test of her high-profile career this Saturday at Randwick, but co-trainer Rob Archibald believes there are enough things in her favour to suggest a peak performance is possible in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes.
The daughter of Siyouni takes on recently-crowned Horse of the Year, Pride Of Jenni, defending champion Fangirl, last-start Epsom Handicap winner Ceolwulf and Doncaster Mile hero Celestial Legend in the 1600-metre event.
It will be the five-year-old’s first try at Group 1 level since joining Archibald and Annabel Neasham from Perth trainer Simon Miller and Archibald said while she does need to step up, there was more merit to her past two runs than she has been given credit for.
“The first two runs have been at set-weights-and-penalties, it’s nice to get her back to weight-for-age and I think she’s going to appreciate getting up to the mile,” he said.
“No doubt, from what we’ve seen from so far she has to improve a little bit if she’s going to win a King Charles, but I think she can.”
Amelia’s Jewel resumed with a second placing in the Tramway Stakes and was then again runner-up in another 1400m Group 2, the Golden Pendant.
The King Charles III Stakes will be her first start at 1600m since disappointing as favourite in the Toorak Handicap, but the start before that she defeated Pride Of Jenni in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Pride Of Jenni has risen to a new level since then and clashing with her again will help the Warwick Farm trainers determine future plans.
“I think we’ll get a good line at weight-for-age really where she stacks up against those other horses,” Archibald said.
“We feel like she’s going really well, she’s at peak fitness being third-up and hopefully she gets a lovely run and I’m sure she’ll be really strong late.”