Amelia's Jewel set to make statement in Roma Cup return

Amelia’s Jewel streaks away to win last year’s Group 1 Northerly Stakes at Ascot. Picture: Western Racepix

Western weapon Amelia's Jewel overcame a tumultuous last preparation to give Simon Miller his first Group 1 and the savvy Perth trainer has warned she could be even more lethal this time.

Some may be prepared to risk Amelia's Jewel when she resumes in the Group 3 Roma Cup over the sprint trip of 1100m at Ascot on Saturday after she was last seen taking out the Group 1 Northerly Stakes over 1800m in December.

However, Miller said that would be foolhardy.

He pointed out that the three-year-old filly had all manner of issues behind the scenes last time, a campaign which began when she only just scraped home when first-up in a Listed race over 1200m.

This time, she is cherry ripe and ready to fly in her first port of call before she heads to the $4m The Quokka slot race where she is the $3.50 favourite.

TAB has her the $2.50 favourite to resume a winner in the Roma Cup.

"Going into last preparation she came in light and so I had to try to put weight on her and get her fit at the same time, which wasn't easy," Miller said.

"It was a trainwreck the whole preparation really, but she won first-up underdone.

"We were behind the eight-ball the whole time.

"When she won first-up I just thought, ‘you are a freak'.

"This time in, everything has been easy, smooth sailing.

"The punters would be curious, she won a Group 1 at 1800(m), can she sprint at 1100(m)?

"Her first-up run last time in, the figures were outstanding, she had come off a major setback and she was half fit going into it.

"This time in, she is superior to where she was last time, she is fitter and she is coming off a really good trial and she's ready to go.

"There's a lot of things in my favour that say she can win on Saturday."

The team behind Amelia's Jewel – trainer Simon Miller (right) and owner Peter Walsh (left).

Racing is always looking for its next superstar and it may have found it in Amelia's Jewel.

Miller revealed that before her Group 1 Northerly Stakes triumph he had been close to pulling Amelia's Jewel out of the race.

She spiked a temperature at one stage which was only brought under control with three different courses of antibiotic treatment.

Even when she scoped clear on the Monday before the Group 1, Miller took until race eve to give the filly the green light to race.

All roads lead to The Quokka this campaign – after which Miller will spell Amelia's Jewel with a view to preparing her for a spring preparation most likely targeted at the $10m Golden Eagle in Sydney in October.

But he is not entirely ruling out a switch of plans to a Cox Plate tilt – if it looks like being wet in Sydney.

"I'd love to win a Cox Plate, being a Melbourne boy it would be the pinnacle for me," Miller said.

"The weather might dictate things as well.

"I don't think she's that effective on wet tracks, but I haven't produced her on one.

"Sydney weather at that time of year could be a question mark.

"Pete (owner Peter Walsh) never ties me down to anything but he wants to win a Golden Eagle."

Amelia's Jewel will carry 54.5kg on Saturday under the WFA conditions of the Roma Cup.