3 minute read
Daughter of South African Group 2 winner steps out for Griffiths and De Kock.
Robbie Griffiths has sent out thousands of runners as a horse trainer, but none have carried a jockey sporting the distinctive yellow and blue colours of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum.
That will change at Caulfield on Saturday when Ameerati makes her debut for the Cranbourne horseman and his training partner Mathew de Kock in the $130,000 Take It To The Neds Level Handicap (1100m).
Ameerati is a daughter of Pride Of Dubai, who won a Blue Diamond for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa, and Pivotal mare Amanee, who Australian racing fans would not be familiar with but de Kock knows well.
"We've had a long-standing relationship with the Sheikh and we trained Ameerati's mother in South Africa," de Kock said.
"She was a very good filly, she went and raced in Dubai as well, so she was talented and that's where the connection is."
Amanee won at Group 1 level over 1600 metres in South Africa and started her broodmare career abroad but returned to Australia after a visit to champion Japanese stallion Deep Impact with the subsequent foal turning out to be $1.1 million Inglis Easter yearling Elzamee.
Elzamee won over 2000m at Caulfield in May, having contested the Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) and Australian Derby (2400m) at his previous two starts and while de Kock said Saturday's 1100m race was the ideal launch pad for Ameerati he also expects her to be better over more distance.
"She's shown us some talent, hence the reason we thought we could start her at Caulfield," he said.
"She's never left Cranbourne to do a piece of work or a gallop, so it will be interesting to see how she goes, but her work at home is pretty solid and should put her in with a good chance.
"But she will be better over further. If she can run in the top five we'll be chuffed because she's got a lot of room for improvement."
Ameerati's preparations for debut have included two Cranbourne jumpouts, the most recent of which resulted in a strong two-length win over 850m on June 20.
Ethan Brown has the job aboard Ameerati at Caulfield, where they have drawn the inside barrier in a field that is down to 13 runners after the scratching of Tragara.
