Amelia’s Jewel next race: Golden Eagle ahead of Cox Plate
A charity for autistic children and people with disabilities is a surprise lever which has Australia’s wonder horse Amelia’s Jewel seemingly poised to run in the $10m Golden Eagle rather than the Cox Plate.
Racenet can also reveal the Australian Turf Club has booked “the equivalent of a private suite” at Rosehill on Golden Eagle day to accommodate potentially 30 of the Perth mare’s fan club.
It is the strongest indication yet Amelia’s Jewel will not race in the Cox Plate and instead launch in the $10m Golden Eagle in Sydney.
Another even stronger indication is that owner Peter Walsh has already nominated the charity that Amelia’s Jewel will represent in the Golden Eagle.
Golden Eagle contenders are partnered with a charity, with 10 percent of that horse’s winnings going to that cause.
Amelia’s Jewel is the $3.50 Golden Eagle favourite and if she won, more than $500,000 would be donated to Walsh’s charity which is one especially close to his heart.
Walsh told Racenet his Golden Eagle charity was set up by his brother Greg and supported autistic children and their families as well as people with disabilities of all ages, based at Dunsborough, south of Perth.
“Greg has put a lot of money into it, he set it up for autistic kids and their parents,” Walsh said.
“It’s a real carrot for me because if Amelia’s Jewel wins the Golden Eagle there will be $500,000 going to that charity.
“That helps us make the decisions, because you think that if you do win it (the Golden Eagle), the charity money goes into the community and into a good cause and helps my brother.
“My brother has seen what the autistic kids can go through.
“When you are making a decision (about the Golden Eagle), you think about that.”
While there are big biscuits of a $10m race in Sydney to consider or the prestige of the $5m Cox Plate, it appears the selfless charity component will also be a major driver.
Walsh said the Amelia’s Jewel crew had not organised a spot at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day, like they had at Rosehill for Golden Eagle day.
Nothing was 100 percent set in stone, with a decision to be made after the Simon Miller-trained Amelia’s Jewel races in Saturday’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield where she is the $2.20 favourite.
But you only need to read the tea leaves to work out that the Golden Eagle, restricted to four-year-olds, is the most likely next port of call.
“I am swinging to the Golden Eagle and I think we all are swinging that way, even though we are not 100 percent,” Walsh said.
“Originally I always said I wanted to go to the Golden Eagle, Simon (Miller) knows that.
“When you work it out, Amelia’s Jewel is only four years old once.
“The only thing that has changed is we are now one of the top fancies for the Cox Plate, when originally we thought we might be $15.”
The Australian Turf Club’s general manager for racing and wagering James Ross said he was confident Amelia’s Jewel would race in the Golden Eagle.
“They (connections) have taken what is equivalent to a private suite for the day, they are happy with that,” Ross said.
“Peter Walsh is pretty committed to the Eagle at the moment, he has nominated his charity.
“It is a sign of seriousness, to start planning on that sort of scale.
“The opportunity that’s presented to them with the Golden Eagle is not only that it’s a $10m race, but it’s an opportunity for a four-year-old horse that is unique and it doesn’t exist again.
“That’s a big driver.”
Walsh said he and Miller would make a final decision on Amelia’s Jewel’s next start as soon as possible after she races in Saturday’s Toorak at Caulfield.
