Amalfi Prince Reigns

At his fourth start, Amalfi Prince (3 g Sebring - Campania, by Dubai Destination) was a strong winner of the $12,000 Maiden 1600 metres on 27 January at Hastings.

Posting two notable seconds at his  first two starts, Amalfi Prince was freshened and trialled before finding the line for fifth in a Maiden 3YO 1400 metres on 2 January at Tauranga. He appeared suited to the step up in distance and the performance reflected that.

Negating an awkward draw (10) by beginning cleanly, Amalfi Prince was outside the leader before the pace slackened at the 1200 metres.  Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, who is continuing his terrific winning form, sensibly eased to fourth with cover passing the 800m, improved to second nearing the home turn and always looked likely of claiming the leader. It was comfortable in the end, scoring by one and a quarter lengths.

In race named Wairoa Racing Club @ Hastings 20 February, Amalfi Prince ran 1600 metres in 1:37.5 on footing upgraded to Dead4 and as race favourite paid $3.20 & $1.40 on TAB tote.

Kamaruddin was recording his 16^thwin this year, his ninth for Te Akau, and included among them was the Anniversary Handicap (Gr. 3, 1600m) on Bankers Choice (Mongolian Khan) and Eulogy Stakes (Gr.3,1600m) aboard Belle En Rouge. He has the goal of becoming the leading apprentice and is currently ranked eighth on overall jockey table, only two wins behind former Champion Apprentice Kozzi Asano.

“It was a nice ride from Joe (Kamaruddin),” said trainer Jamie Richards. “I was mindful of the awkward barrier and told Joe to get him up on his toes before he jumps - give him a good strong warm-up and keep him moving.

“He did a really good job of getting him out of the barrier and with what happened in the race, he didn't have it easy and it wasn't a sit-and-steer but Joe summed everything up very well.

“His two-kilo claim is invaluable, the way he's riding, and I was really pleased with the way he got the job done.”

Champion trainer last season and leading the premiership this time around, Richards can see staying attributes in Amalfi Prince.

“We will possibly give him a chance of getting to the Derby,” Richards said. “We've played around with him and he is lightly raced but we might throw him in the deep end for the Avondale Guineas and that will let us know whether he's a Derby horse, or whether it could come up too soon.”

The $120,000 Avondale Guineas (Gr. 2, 2100m) is on Saturday 19 February at Ellerslie, ahead of $1 million NZ Derby (Gr. 1, 2400m) there a fortnight later (5 March).

“If not, as a back-up, he could be a suitable type for the three-year-old staying race at Awapuni,” he said, referring to Manawatu Classic (Gr. 3, 2000m) on 2 April.

Owned by Te Akau Italian Spirit Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Amalfi Prince was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $90,000, from Ohukia Lodge, at 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.

By Sebring (More Than Ready), who won five of six races including the Golden Slipper (Gr. 1, 1200m), while siring Derby, Oaks' and Guineas' winners, Amalfi Prince is from a mare that won six races (1100m - 1900m) in Australia.

Amalfi Prince showed ability to flatten out when breezing up in good time (10.5) prior to the Ready to Run sale, and is now displaying the adaptability that progeny by Sebring exude.

“I bought him from Jamie Beatson (Ohukia Lodge) at the Ready to Run Sale,” Ellis said. “We really liked him, the versatility of the sire and he's from a stakes' winning mare that competed to Group 1 level.

“He was bought for $150,000 as a yearling, so we thought he was very good value being able to buy him for $90,000. And Sebring had sired multiple Group 1 winners Dissident and Criterion.

“Jamie (Richards) has done a great job with him. He freshened the horse after a couple of seconds when some trainers may have pushed on, but he had a plan in mind and that's why he's such a good trainer.

“Joe (Kamaruddin) is riding terrifically well and it's terrific that some of New Zealand's best trainers are putting him on, even in races where he doesn't get a claim.

“That tells me what tremendous value he is at two-kilos and the great thing about him is that he's such an important member of our team. He rides fantastic track work, nothing's a problem, he's never late, works hard and always has a smile on his face. He's such a top person and I'm really proud of him.

“Good young people like Joe deserve all the success they get and that's what keeps me really motivated in racing, to see young people in our industry who put so much in, getting the success they deserve.

“Our apprentices, Joe and Parmar, have won nearly 50 races this season and over one-million in prize money. We could not be more proud of them.”

Amalfi Prince was strapped by Sam Bergerson.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz