Unlike many of her harness racing compatriots, Amarula won’t be chasing any Vicbred or Breeders Crown riches in coming months.
Instead, the three-year-old trotting filly will head to Saturday night’s VHRSC Holmfield and then maybe the Seelite Windows & Doors Victoria Trotters Derby at Maryborough in August.
Amarula’s driver, John Caldow, whose wife Maree trains the filly, predicted the daughter of Bacardi Lindy/Valley Of The Moon would get better with time.
“Hopefully she comes back a good four-year-old,” he said after mentioning the Trotters Derby being a potential target race.
“She’s a lovely horse and she’s got good high speed.”
Amarula produced a massive run in last weekend’s Noel Simpson Memorial Victoria Trotters Oaks, attacking the line to finish second behind My Arya.
“There wasn’t a lot of speed early, which didn’t help, so to be able to get home after no speed early it was a really good run,” Caldow said.
While the shorter trip of the Holmfield (1720m) on Saturday night isn’t ideal for the staying type, Caldow said Amarula should still run well.
“She stays really well … and most horses who stay well go pretty good over the short trip anyway,” he said.
“She’s a lovely trotter and I’m sure she’ll go well.”
The Group 2 Holmfield has drawn a stellar line-up with the likes of Fabrication (drawn the pole), Group 1 winner Endsino (barrier two), highly rated gelding Illawong Armstrong (gate four), talented ex-Kiwi Blue Sky Commander for the Butterworth team and Kerryn Manning (gate five), Oaks champion My Arya (barrier eight), rising star Gus An Maori (barrier nine) and champion juvenile Eljaykay Phoenix (barrier 10) in the field.
Cody Winnell