The Breeders’ Classic trophy is heading back to the Chris Waller stable for the third successive year, but not with the horse the trainer originally planned.
Catkins has won the 1200m Group Two race for the past two years but it was Amicus who represented the stable at Randwick on Saturday.
Amicus
The winner of the 2014 Thousand Guineas, Amicus ($9.50) had to work hard to overhaul Press Report($41) to win by a nose.
“Catkins needed a longer spell and was a week or two behind,” Waller said.
“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.”
Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Amicus carried 58kg, 4kg more than the runner-up.
Favourite Dublin Lass ($2) was wide throughout and had little left at the end, finishing sixth of the seven runners and spoiling James McDonald’s perfect start to the day after he rode the first three winners.
Amicus will now follow a path to the Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) on March 12 at Rosehill.
Last year Amicus finished fourth in the Coolmore, beaten less than half a length in a blanket finished behind Plucky Belle, First Seal and Diamond Drille.
