09 July 2015
by Chris Barsby
Bathurst raider Amaretto will need to make her own luck to win the Gr.1 $100,000 Greg & Sharon Mitchell Queensland Oaks at Albion Park on Saturday night.
But this is nothing new for the Ashlee Siejka trainee.
The Million Dollar Cam – Eyes Of Courage three-year-old filly has been plagued by constant bad luck and shocking draws throughout her career.
The run of poor draws continues this weekend after being slammed with gate twelve, five off the second-line.
Yet Siejka remains upbeat.
“This is familiar territory we find ourselves in because this has been an issue with her right throughout her career to date. We did draw well in the Breeders Challenge but we had Greg Hayes to thank for that after selecting our barrier for that final, but in the end, she made an error and cost herself victory but I still believe that was her best effort during her career to date.” Siejka said.
Amaretto finished second to highly regarded New Zealand filly Supersonic Miss at TABCORP Park, Menangle on June 28 at her most recent start.
An error soon after the start proved costly as the filly settled closer to last than first before charging home and running a gallant second.
A key trial at Albion Park on Tuesday afternoon underlined the faith that Siejka has in her filly.
“I was thrilled with her trial earlier this week and she felt fantastic because I thought she was a little on the big side following a couple easy days after her last start followed by the travel to get here. I thought she jogged it and her times were really sharp so I couldn’t be happier.
“Obviously the draw is a setback because we’re now relying on a solid speed but this field boasts great depth and I think we’ll be running which will suit my filly. The likes of the Purdon/Rasmussen fillies plus Morton Plains and the Shannon Price fillies will be very tough to beat.
“I would love to win a major race with this filly because she’s been so consistent throughout her career; she tries so hard and never gives up so I’m hoping this might be our time to shine.”
Siejka has an excellent chance in the $20,000 Lunchbox Lodge Country Cup Final with former New Zealand gelding Our Leonardo.
The lightly raced four-year-old ran a cracking race in his Australian debut when going down narrowly in the heat eight days ago.
“I’m still working him out but I like what I have and he’ll improve greatly off his effort in the heat last week. He showed good gate speed and the barrier is a massive advantage this week.
“I expect to lead and he’ll prove hard to catch, I’m likely to make some gear changes and open him up because once that horse went past him last week, he actually kicked on again but it was too late.”
The richly talented horseperson is also represented by talented pacers Lochinver in the Gr.2 $50,000 Gurney Group of Companies 4 & 5yo Championship and Mister Chow in the Brylin Boyz Q0 Pace while My Lucky Belle is listed as the emergency runner in the Queensland Oaks.
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