Simon Miller has celebrated his first Group 1 victory as a trainer courtesy of stable star Amelia’s Jewel taking out the Northerly Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
Amelia’s Jewel was supported into favouritism late and the surge in support was justified as she surged to a one length victory over a wall of Eastern Raiders led by Ironclad from Steinem and Cascadian.
The success continues a stellar campaign for the daughter of Siyouni who has now won three of her four runs this prep.
This one however holds particular significance, providing trainer Simon Miller with his first success at Group 1 level.
“We’ve been peppering away. At some stage, it (Group 1) was always going to happen but to be honest, it didn’t really worry me,” Miller said.
“I just love winning, whether it be here or Northam. I’m a competitive bastard, I just love winning.
“It will probably sink in in the next couple of days.
“This time in, I really wanted the Guineas and we got it so this is a bit of a bonus.”
The victory also justified jockey Pat Carbery’s decision to maintain his raceday association with Amelia’s Jewel by getting down to 50kg for Northerly Stakes Day.
“‘Patty’ Carbery, this whole prep, every day he has ridden her,” Miller said.
“You want to do something right, you do it yourself.
“Some mornings he would come in, ride her, and go home.
“He’s not a big drinker Patty but he got off the grog, just so he could get his weight right as soon as she came in so he didn’t even have to sweat today and he didn’t have to diet.”
Carbery did have to sweat for a run briefly on straightening but when the gap emerged, West Australia’s star three-year-old surged through it and drew clear from Ironclad late.
“We got into a great spot,” Carbery said.
“I was able to get off the fence, following the one I wanted to be following.”
“I didn’t expect it to be like that, I thought it would be a lot more tricky from barrier one.
“She settled so well. The pace went on mid-race which made it even nicer.
“Obviously, I had won on Northerly before so that makes it even more special.”
“You would never have expected him (Northerly) to get to the heights he got to when I was riding him in the early days but he was always a very good horse.
“I just got cluttered up a little bit when Searchin’ Roc’s started coming around but she quickened up so good through a pretty tight gap. Unbelievable.”
Amelia’s Jewel provided Carbery with a fifth career Group 1 who has a history with the races’ namesake, Northerly.
“This is by far my biggest win in racing, no risk,” Carbery said.
“Obviously, I had won on Northerly before so that makes it even more special.”
“You would never have expected him (Northerly) to get to the heights he got to when I was riding him in the early days but he was always a very good horse.”