Amalfi Prince Comes of Age in Classic

After showing plenty of promise through the first six starts of his career, Te Akau Racing’s Ready to Run Sale recruit Amalfi Prince (Sebring) went to a new level in Saturday’s $80,000 Group Three Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2000m) at Awapuni.

Bought by David Ellis for $90,000 from the draft of Ohukia Lodge at the 2020 Ready to Run Sale, the gelding has now had seven starts for two wins, three placings and $60,115 in stakes.

Amalfi Prince was runner-up in two of his first three starts before an effortless maiden win at Hastings in late January, and another placing followed at Matamata in mid-March.

He was a little under the radar heading into Saturday’s clash against a talented three-year-old field, but the step up to 2000 metres lifted him to another level.

Given a positive ride by Te Akau apprentice Joe Kamaruddin, Amalfi Prince was prominent throughout the race and threw down the gauntlet to his rivals around the home turn.

Challengers gave their all to try to reel him in down the straight, but Amalfi Prince never slowed down and maintained a margin of a length and a quarter all the way to the finish.

“This is a strong horse who just keeps going,” Kamaruddin said. “I’m very excited and thankful that my boss gave me this opportunity.

“He drew wide, but jumped well and I went up and sat beside the leader. He travelled well, and in the last 300 metres he was just so strong.”

Notably, Amalfi Prince became the first winner and first stakes winner after a changing of the guard at Te Akau Racing.

During the week, champion trainer Jamie Richards signed off ahead of his upcoming relocation to Hong Kong. He handed the reins back to multiple premiership winner Mark Walker, who has returned to his old post at Te Akau after more than a decade in Singapore.

“That was really good,” Walker said. “We will travel this horse home now and see how he eats up and then set a plan for him. It looks as though he will run further than this race today, so he is an interesting horse.”

Amalfi Prince is out of Campania (Dubai Destination), who won six races and placed in the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) at Hawkesbury in New South Wales.

Vendor	Ohukia Lodge
Purchaser	Mr DC Ellis (Te Akau)
Breeding	Sebring – Campania
Sale	Lot 163, 2020 Ready to Run Sale, $90,000
Bred by	Mr S Wilde