Fastnet Mare Amicus Returns in Hot Form

Winner of the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last spring, talented mare Amicus (4m Fastnet Rock  x Gold Chant, by El Moxie) looked well placed for her spring return in the Group III ATC Toy Show Quality at Randwick on Saturday and duly saluted. The Chris Waller trained mare was well ridden by Hugh Bowman, surging late to run down the leaders and win the 1300 metre event by a neck. "She was already a Group I winner so she probably did have the class on them,” Waller said. "To see her return in this fashion is terrific.” Hugh Bowman won the Guineas on Amicus last spring and was full of praise for the mare, who will doubtless head south again for stakes goals this spring. “We probably didn’t see the best of her in the autumn, but it is hard for them in the autumn, they’ve got to take on the older mares,” he said. “She looks to have come back at four and looks in good order. She trialled well recently and has kicked off very well.” 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 three wins from 13 starts with prizemoney topping $540,000. 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 to champion sprinter and successful sire Starspangledbanner. It's also the family of Group I stars Elvstroem and Haradasun as well as recent US Group I winner Highland Reel.