By Amanda Rando
SHE has had a few setbacks this season but talented filly Ameretto is on track to try and capture the biggest win of her career.
After demolishing rivals in a heat of the Breeders Crown at Ballarat, Victoria, last night (Wednesday), trainer-driver Ashlee Siejka is more than impressed with the three-year-old’s progress this preparation.
“She went super,” Siejka said.
“Considering we have done a fair bit of travelling with her recently, it was a great effort.”
Ameretto led all-the-way in the qualifier, rating 1:58.4 and crossing the line with more than 13m to spare, untouched.
It was the daughter of Million Dollar Cam’s first start since attempting to chase success in Queensland’s Derby and Oaks.
“She really hasn’t had a lot of racing until recently,” Siejka said.
“She’s had a few niggling injuries along the way with a bit of a suspensory issue and also some muscular problems.
“But she has all of that behind her now and seems fine.”
Siejka plans not to race Ameretto until the Breeders Crown semi-final at Ballarat on August 22.
“She’s had a hard couple months of racing so the plan is to keep her fresh until the semis,” Siejka said.
Surprisingly, even though Ameretto has earned $130,883 in prizemoney in just 23 starts, she is yet to win a feature race.
But, she has come close on many occasions.
She finished second placed in the Breeders Challenge final at the age of two and also as a three-year-old and was also runner up in the Raith Memorial.
Ameretto also finished third in the Queensland Oaks.
“She has done a great job this season but it would be nice to add a feature win to her name,” Siejka said.
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