Bathurst trainer-driver Ashlee Siejka could be set to parlay a $9000 investment into more than $200,000 and a couple of group 1s at the Breeders Crown finals at Melton on Sunday.
The 27-year-old doesn't go to the yearling sales with pockets full of cash, but secured Ameretto – second favourite in the three-year-old fillies final after drawing the pole – for just $3000, and paid double that price for Zibibbo, which will start from gate two in the two-year-old fillies group 1.
"It's never that bad to have two in the finals drawn well," Siejka said.
Ameretto will be looking to finally break through in a group 1 after being unlucky when placed in the Breeders Challenge Final and Queensland Oaks this season. She has proven a bargain buy for Siekja.
"I couldn't believe it when she only cost me $3000 because I liked her a lot," Siejka said. "She was out of a 1.59 Courage Under Fire mare from a hot US stallion in Million Dollar Cam.
"Everything is a bonus now, but to win that group 1 with her would be fantastic."
Ameretto has won more than $140,000 in stakes, but has cruelly been denied twice in group 1s. In the Breeders Challenge she galloped out and managed to recover to run second, then in the Oaks at Albion Park she did it tough and ran third.
"She had never galloped before the Breeders Challenge and there was a gear malfunction. One of the pins released [on the hobble shorters] and before I could pull the other one she went up [in a break]," Siejka said.
"She is usually very good off the gate and I think she can lead on Sunday, and we will see what happens after that."
Two-year-old Zibibbo, which has won twice, has come good at the end of the season, but had to go through the repechage before being runner-up in her semi-final.
"She has got a good motor and is just working out how to use it," Siejka said.
