Rising star Amarelinha will not be a late entrant for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby.
Te Akau principal David Ellis has confirmed the three-year-old filly will be aimed at the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham on March 20, with the Group 3 Sunline Vase at Ellerslie on March 6 her final lead-up.
TAB bookmakers reacted by shortening the daughter of Savabeel into a $1.70 favourite for the Oaks, as connections of colts and geldings let out a collective sigh of relief.
"In general terms, I am a fan of running the fillies in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series where possible," Ellis said.
"I think that they are better placed and they have got the rest of their career to go on as four and five-year-olds and race against the colts and the geldings.