Fastnet Rock Mare Fires at Flemington

A red hot field of mares in the Group II VRC Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington on Saturday produced a blanket finish with last year’s Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Amicus (4m Fastnet Rock x Gold Chant, by El Moxie) arriving just in the nick of time. A smart winner of the Group III ATC Toy Show Quality at Randwick at her first run back from a spell, the daughter of Fastnet Rock was dispatched to Melbourne by Chris Waller for this 1400 metre assignment with happy results. Ridden patiently by Craig Newitt from gate 13, Amicus settled back in the field and had the last shot at the leaders coming with a well-timed run to snatch a neck win. A $500,000 Magic Millions purchase for her trainer from the Tyreel Stud draft, Amicus runs for a syndicate of Waller stable clients and has the overall record of four wins from 14 starts with prizemoney topping $660,000. Bred by Makybe and consigned by Tyreel, Amicus is a half-sister to stakes-placed Il Cavallo and is the second winner for stakes-placed Gold Chant, a half-sister by El Moxie (USA) to champion sprinter and successful sire Starspangledbanner. Gold Chant has a yearling full sister to Amicus by Fastnet Rock to follow.