Amy C – Belmont – Race 8 – 80K Allowance Optional Claimer (8.5 furlongs on turf) – 3-year-old filly by Charming Thought out of Alzahra, formerly trained by Henry Spiller.
Twice raced filly who broke her maiden on the second of those starts. Despite being with a UK-based trainer, Amy C has raced exclusively in France to date, with both starts coming on a synthetic surface (Polytrack) at Deauville – turf should not be an issue, however. She was sent straight to the lead on debut, seeming to know her job, but was a little green under pressure in the final two furlongs, boxing on nicely into second nonetheless. She showed the benefit of that debut on her second, and most recent, start, again adopting front-running tactics but this time not for catching, lengthening nicely and powering through the line – a fair effort from this late foal who was still two months shy of her third birthday at the time. The second and fourth in that race have gone on to run well in a Listed contest, and Amy C looked a Stakes-type herself there, as well as a decent sort physically. Her works haven’t been spectacular, but she has joined a top yard that excels with fillies, albeit one that probably wouldn’t have them cherry-ripe first up off a break. In ability terms, I’m pretty sure Amy C will prove to be as good, or better, than these opponents in the long-term, but the market will reveal more about what is expected from her today.