WA trainer opens up the wallet, purchasing yearling full-brother to Amelia’s Jewel for mammoth $625,000 price

The full-brother to Amelia’s Jewel is destined for a career in WA after local trainer Luke Fernie outlaid a whopping $625,000 to keep the charming son of Siyouni representing our home State. Consigned by Segenhoe Stud for owner Peter Walsh and Amelia Park, bidding for Lot 234 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale started at $200,000 but quickly sped beyond the half-a-million-dollar mark. Bidding stalled at $600,000 for almost a minute and just as the auctioneer’s gavel threatened to drop, Fernie flourished a hand in the air, taking the price to $625,000. 25 seconds later, the impressive bay was knocked down to the WA conditioner who admits his heart was beating out of his chest. “I thought he’d be too expensive for me – I thought he’d go for a million dollars,” Fernie said. “But the sales prices were lower than I expected all day and sometimes you’ve got to put your knackers on the line, and I put mine on out of gut instinct. “The most I’ve paid before is $390,000, so it was pretty stressful.” If the Westspeed-eligible colt inherits any of his big sister’s ability, connections will be in for a rapid return on investment. In her only three starts as a two-year-old, Amelia’s Jewel banked well in excess of $400,000 and has now earned just shy of $4 million as a five-year-old. There might even be some poetic justice in the sale, with Amelia’s Jewel’s sole defeat across the first year of her career coming in the 2022 Burgess Queen Stakes behind Fernie’s Laced Up Heels. But she would win the WA Guineas and Northerly Stakes at her next two starts, attracting adoration from the racing public and a respect from Fernie which pushed him into the purchase of his new “Ferrari”. “I’m more happy that he’s coming back to WA. Amelia’s Jewel was so good for WA racing and she’s been super for us, so I want to do what I can to push up our local product,” he said. “I told (Peter Walsh) I have to sell my house to keep one leg of the horse.” Away Game, who sold at the 2022 Broodmare Sale for $4 million, had her first foal – a Written Tycoon filly - top the charts at $1.8 million on day one. + A fire at Caulfield Racecourse has forced the transfer of Wednesday’s meeting to Mornington after a blaze engulfed the grandstand on Tuesday. Police said a 51-year-old man had been arrested at Mordialloc railway station on Tuesday afternoon following reports of several grass fires in the area. Detective Sergeant Stuart Hough said police were no longer searching for anyone else in relation to the fires. “He lived in the (Caulfield) area a long time ago. He does have a history with police,” Hough said. “At this stage, I can confirm there’s no links to the racing industry at all.”