Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
The Amber Hare continued her rapid rise to stardom with a superb victory at Gloucester Park on Friday night when her performance revived wonderful memories of the brilliant Frith, one of the best fillies and mares to have raced in Western Australia this century.
The New South Wales-bred The Amber Hare is following the golden footsteps of her close relation Frith. After one win (at Penrith in August 2021) and a third placing from five starts in NSW The Amber Hare has excited WA pacing pundits, with her 12 starts in the State producing eight wins, three seconds and one seventh placing for trainer-driver Jocelyn Young.
The Amber Hare, a four-year-old by former star pacer For A Reason, is the seventh foal out of the unraced Blissfull Hall mare Amber Bliss, whose dam Jackie Kelly also produced Frith (by Four Starzzz Shark).
Frith had 63 starts for 39 wins, 14 placings and stakes of $1,180,345. Frith, who won eight Group 1 events, made two trips to WA where she raced four times for three wins, succeeding in the Group 1 WA Oaks at Gloucester Park in May 2013 and winning the Group 3 Brennan Memorial and the Group 2 Norms Daughter Classic in November and December 2015.
The Amber Hare now is firmly on target to emulate the deeds of Frith by winning the $100,000 Norms Daughter Classic on Friday week, with Young saying that she was setting her mare for that race and the $150,000 Mares Classic on November 25.
“I think The Amber Hare is capable of running against the State’s top mares in the big races,” said Young after she had driven the $3 favourite to a stylish victory over the recent WA Oaks winner Taking The Miki ($9) and the strong-finishing Lady Jadore ($31).
The Amber Hare started from the outside (barrier three) on the back line and got her away speedily and dashed her forward, three wide, as the polemarker Taking The Miki assumed control from barrier one after defying a strong challenge from the $3.80 chance Sovrana, who led by three-quarters of a length in the early stages but was unable to cross to the front.
“I expected that Sovrana would lead, and I thought that my best chance would be to punch up and hopefully find my way to the front or sitting outside of Sovrana. It wasn’t Sovrana who was in front, but I got there.
“The first time I sat behind The Amber Hare I thought she was going to be quite good. And she is progressive.”
The Amber Hare, who rated 1.56.7 over the 2130m, is also related to another NSW-bred pacer McRaes Mate, who raced successful at Gloucester Park when he won at eight of his 26 starts, including the Group 3 Christmas Gift in December 2007.
McRaes Mate, who earned $482,053 from 30 wins and 29 placings from 120 starts, was out of Miss Paula, a daughter of Jackie Kelly. Miss Paula (64 starts for 22 wins, 16 placings and $159,395) was the dam of 12 winners, including McRaes Mate, Albert Kelly (72 starts for 32 wins, 14 placings and $322,320), Greg Kelly (18 starts for 17 wins and $345,150) and Macca Kelly (162 starts for 26 wins, 50 placings and $311,397).