Vinery Stud's stalwart Testa Rossa came agonisingly close to a Group double at Morphettville on Saturday.
Forty minutes after his 6yo son Reldas was nosed out by the Hussonet gelding Karacatis in the Group III D C McKay Stakes (1100m), Testa Rossa struck with the Darren Weir-trained Amelie's Star in the Group II Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m).
It has been a roller-coaster ride for the connections of 5yo mare whose career began with a whimper when beating just two of the 14 starter's home in a maiden at Kembla Grange back in January 2015.
After breaking her maiden at her fourth start for her then trainer Peter Moody, Amelia's Star went on a 4-win streak culminating with a dominant performance in the Group III Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill in September 2015. (photo Lisa Grimm).
But then an injury saw the daughter of Testa Rossa off the scene for 18 months.
She advances her overall record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 11 starts with earnings of $340,935.
A homebred for Patrick Hodgens, Amelie's Star is the fourth foal of the Zabeel mare Zazita, which Hodgens had bought at the 2007 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale for $130,000.
A year after foaling Amelie's Star, Zarita produced the very handy Mossman filly Honey Cara, a recent winner at Moonee Valley and Flemington.
But Zazita has had a troubled history in the past few years.
She missed to Smart Missile in 2012 then did not hold to Smart Missile and Pluck (USA) in 2013 and slipped to Husson (ARG) in 2014.
In 2016 Zazita produced a filly by German import Illo (GER) who now stands in China.
