Thousand Guineas winner Amicus is on track for a start in the Coolmore Classic after scoring a first up win in the Group 2 $175,000 NSW Thoroughbred Breeders NSW Breeders Classic (1200m) at Randwick.
Breeders Classic winner Amicus is on track to run in the Coolmore Classic at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Amicus was having her first start since running fifth behind Politeness in the Group 1 $500,000 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on October 31 during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival when she nailed the pacemaker Press Report right on the line to get the judge’s decision.
The Chris Waller trained Group 1 winning mare is now on target to run in the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 12.
Amicus was sent out at the good odds of $9.50 and with Hugh Bowman urging her to the line, was able to down the $41 chance Press Report with I’ve Got The Looks ($5) a close up third.
Favourite Dublin Lass ($2) was caught wide for the entire trip and faded in the straight to run sixth in the seven horse field.
Waller was able to claim the Breeders Classic trophy for the third year in a row after Catkins won in 2014 and 2015, but when Catkins wasn’t ready to run this year, Waller sent Amicus out to represent the stable.
“Catkins needed a longer spell and was a week or two behind,” Waller told AAP.
“Once I realised she wouldn’t be there I had a look at what else we had and decided Amicus should run.
“Even though she is a Group One winner, she got in well under the set weights and penalties conditions.
“She is a very good mare. She ran fifth in the Myer Classic in the spring and wasn’t far away.”
Saturday’s win was also Bowman’s third Breeders Classic win in succession and also continued his great association with Amicus, recording their fourth win together, with one of those victories being the 2014 Group 1 $500,000 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.
Amicus will be lining up for a second time in the Coolmore Classic after being beaten a quarter of a length last year when fourth to the Peter Moody trained Plucky Belle.
Saturday’s win in the Breeders Classic was Amicus’ fifth win from eighteen starts and took her earning to $781,985.
