By Ray Hickson
Emerging filly Amangiri has the chance to pitch up as an Australian Oaks contender if she passes a stern test at Hawkesbury on Wednesday and jockey Tommy Berry is adamant she’ll do it with flying colours.
Amangiri will be having just her third start, her first on a wet track and takes on older horses for the first time in the Easy Lane Handicap (1600m).
But Berry said she’s shown above average ability from day one and is well and truly in her corner to rise to the occasion.
“She’s always been a filly that’s been very green and very raw but shown plenty of ability on the track,’’ Berry said.
“I don’t think she could have done more wrong in her first run in a race but she was still very strong on the line late. Even last start she had to overcome obstacles to win.
“She’s up against older horses but she has to be able to perform at the higher level and to do that she has to beat the older horses.
Amangiri easily wins at Randwick on March 6
“She’s better than them so regardless of her age I think she still should be beating them.’’
Amangiri is rated a $26 chance in TAB’s Australian Oaks market and she’s well and truly on top of the betting for Hawkesbury at $2.30 on Tuesday.
Not only did Amangiri run the second fastest last 600m of her 1550m maiden at Randwick earlier this month, Punter's Intelligence data has her running 34.68, the Team Hawkes filly was strong to the line as she scooted home in 11.61 for her last 200m.
Berry said there are still some chinks to iron out but by not throwing her into Group company against the better fillies just yet there’s time to get the small things right.
“She’s a big striding filly who likes to roll along at her own tempo and that’s going to create a bit of a problem sometimes in races when the place slackens,’’ he said.
“She’s heading towards a race like the Oaks if she gets there so she has to learn how to switch off.
“But she has a clean action and carries herself quite well, I don’t think she will have any problem getting through a wet track.
“She’ll put herself up on the speed and I’d be disappointed if she didn’t put that field away.’’
All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s meeting at Hawkesbury