Chris Waller is set to rely on an untapped filly in his quest to capture a first win in the Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone with top weight Amelita an unlikely starter.
A Group 2 victor at Flemington during the spring carnival, Amelita will almost certainly be saved for a race in Brisbane next week after a wide draw compounded her 59kg handicap.
“She’s got a big weight and a wide draw, two negatives,” Waller said.
However, stablemate Summer Flame is on schedule to resume in Saturday’s 1100m feature in what will be her NSW debut.
A winner at Mornington in January, Summer Flame was placed at her two subsequent runs in Melbourne metropolitan grade and Waller has been happy with her build up this campaign.
A daughter of established stallion Written Tycoon, the filly is raced by Rosemont Stud and connections are keen to give her an opportunity in stakes grade.
“She did enough last prep to suggest that we’d bring her up for a race like this with a light weight, and a good draw (barrier three) is a positive as well,” Waller said.
“It hasn’t been a long-term target but obviously any horse you can get black type for for a stud is important.
“She is by the right stallion and she is a nice type.
“She will run really well.”
A capacity field of 16 plus two emergencies was paid up for the Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) on Wednesday with unbeaten Victorian Soft Love an early $3.30 favourite.
Tulloch Lodge three-year-old Gerringong ($6) and Godolphin’s Thames ($6.50) are the only other fillies at single-figure odds with Summer Flame a $26 chance.
Godolphin has made the race its own in recent years winning the past three renewals with Commemorative (2024), Red Card (2023) and Zapateo (2022.
