Amicus Included In Breeders Classic Nominations

The 2016 Breeders Classic nominations have been released and Group 1 winning mare Amicus has been included in the initial entries for the Group 2 event.

Amicus could return to the races in the 2016 Breeders Classic at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

Amicus could return to the races in the 2016 Breeders Classic at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

Amicus took out the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and the four-year-old was an inconsistent performer during 2015.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock failed to record a race win during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival and she was sent to the spelling paddock after she failed to fire in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 11, but she started her spring preparation with a fast-finishing victory in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1300m) at Royal Randwick on August 22.

Amicus proved that win was no fluke when she upstaged a quality field to win the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 12, but she was never in the race when she beat home just a pair of runners in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 26.

She produced another disappointing in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 17, but she produced an improved performance when fifth behind Politeness in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on October 31.

Amicus is the only Chris Waller-trained horse in the 2016 Breeders Classic nominations and Waller has on the past two editions of the race with Catkins.

One of the most interesting horses in the Breeders Classic nominations is Bjorn Baker-trained Selita, who is set to receive a maiden opportunity at stakes level after recording four straight wins on the trot.

Selita was transferred from Gerald Ryan to Baker at the end of 2014 and she has recorded four wins from five starts since she returned to the races in November last year.

The other last start winner in the Breeders Classic nominations is David Pfieffer-trained Cradle Me, who has recovered from the colic attack that saw her miss the Magic Millions Fillies And Mares Handicap at the Gold Coast on January 8.

Cradle Me started her summer campaign with a fifth place finish in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 28 before she produced impressive performances to take out the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Royal Randwick on December 12 and the Listed Canterbury Classic (1200m) at the same venue on Boxing Day.

Dublin Lass, Ellawisdom, I’ve Got The Looks, Miss Cover Girl, Press Report, Queen Of Kariba, Shakespearean Lass, Slots and Vergara round out the 2016 Breeders Classic nominations.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.