Amounis was an Australian

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

Hall of Fame A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or Wiktionary:fame, fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actu ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

. He won 33 races over distances ranging from 6 to 12

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to any of 660 foot (unit), feet, 220 yards, 40 rod (unit), rods, 10 chain (unit), chains, or a ...

s (1,200 to 2,400 metres). Of these wins, 27 were in "Principal Races" (equivalent to today's

Group races Group races, also known as Pattern races, or Graded races in some jurisdictions, are the highest level of races in Thoroughbred horse racing. They include most of the world's iconic races, such as the Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Trio ...

or "Black Type" races), 16 of these races have since been promoted to

Group One Group One, Group 1, Grade I or G1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. In Europe, the level of races for Thoroughbred racing is determined using the Pattern races, Pattern race sys ...

(G1) status. In winning the AJC Epsom Handicap he established a new Australasian record time.

Breeding

He was a brown gelding bred by Percy Miller and foaled in 1922 at his Kia Ora Stud,

Scone, New South Wales Scone () is a town in the Upper Hunter Shire in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2021 census, Scone had a population of 5,013 people. It is on the New England Highway north of Muswellbrook about 270 kilometres (167.77 mil ...

. Amounis was by the outstanding racehorse and sire, Magpie (GB), his dam Loved One was a good racehorse and broodmare by Duke of Melton (GB).Barrie, Douglas M., ''The Australian Bloodhorse'', Angus & Robertson, Sydney, 1956, p. 396-397 Loved One produced 14 foals, of which 8 raced and 5 of these were winners.Pring, Peter; ''Analysis of Champion Racehorses'', The Thoroughbred Press, Sydney, 1977, , pages: 229-235

Racing career

Amounis was sold as a yearling to a Sydney trainer, J.W. Cook. He started twice as a two-year-old, without success. During a spell (rest) while he was recuperating from a leg injury he was gelded. Amounis then developed into a good type of three-year-old and was sold to Paddy Wade for 2,500 guineas. Wade then raced him for a short season when he ran fourth to Manfred in the AJC and Victorian Derbies. Amounis was sold again when Wade left Australia. This time he was purchased by trainer, Frank McGrath on behalf of William Pearson for 1,800 guineas. As a three-year-old in 1925-26 he started 13 times for 6 wins including the AJC

Hobartville Stakes The Hobartville Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race, for three-year-olds at set weights, over a distance of 1400 metres. It is held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in the early autumn. Prize money ...

and

Rosehill Guineas The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Turf Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds at set weights run over a distance of 2000 metres at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney, Australia annually in March. Total prize money for t ...

. As a four-year-old in 1926-27 he started 12 times for 6 wins including the Epsom Handicap (in Australasian record time), VRC Cantala Stakes,

Chipping Norton Stakes The Verry Elleegant Stakes, registered as the Chipping Norton Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, run at weight for age, over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sy ...

W. S. Cox Plate The W. S. Cox Plate is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 2040 metres (approximately 1m 2f), that is held by the Moonee Valley Racing Club at Moo ...

and 1926 Linlithgow Stakes. As a five-year-old in 1927-28 he started 19 times for 3

weight for age {{use dmy dates, date=October 2022 Weight for Age (WFA) is a term in thoroughbred horse racing which is one of the conditions for a race. History The principle of WFA was developed by Henry John Rous, Admiral Rous, a handicapper with the English ...

(wfa) race wins, including the W. S. Cox Plate and 1927 VRC Linlithgow Stakes. As a six-year-old in 1928-29 he started eight times for four wins including the Craven Plate, AJC Epsom Handicap, Tatt's NSW Tramway Handicap and WmtnRC Williamstown Cup. Amounis had to compete as a seven and eight-year-old, against

Phar Lap Phar Lap (4 October 1926 – 5 April 1932) was a New Zealand-born champion Australian Thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse. Achieving great success during his distinguished career, his initial underdog status gave people hope during the ear ...

in great form, as a three- and four-year-old. As a seven-year-old in 1929-30 Amounis started 16 times for 10 wins including the CPRC Canterbury Stakes (with a record weight), VRC CB Fisher Plate, VRC Cantala Stakes, VRC Linlithgow Stakes, Rosehill Stakes, VATC Futurity Stakes, VATC St George Stakes, 1930 VRC C.M. Lloyd Stakes, VRC Essendon Stakes and 1930 AJC All-Aged Stakes. As an eight-year-old in 1930-31 he started eight times for four wins including the 1930 Warwick Stakes, VATC Caulfield Cup, carrying 9 st 8 lbs (61 kilograms), VATC Caulfield Stakes and VRC October Stakes. In the 1930 Warwick Stakes, he defeated

by a short head to deprive Phar Lap of 24 successive victories. Before this race, Phar Lap had won nine consecutive races. Phar Lap then went on to score another 14 consecutive wins. At the end of his six-year-old days, he had 19 wins including the

Cox Plate The W. S. Cox Plate is a Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 2040 metres (approximately 1m 2f), that is held by the Moonee Valley Racin ...

but Amounis came back better than ever for his next two seasons. As a seven-year-old, he won nine races (including one over Phar Lap), finishing no worse than third on just one occasion in 16 starts.

1930 racebook

Image: 1930 VATC Futurity Stakes Racebook P1.jpg, Front cover of the 1930 VATC Futurity Stakes racebook Image: 1930 VATC Futurity Stakes Racebook P2.jpg, Inside cover showing raceday officials Image: 1930 VATC Futurity Stakes Racebook P3.jpg, Starters and results showing the winner, Amounis Image: 1930 VATC Futurity Stakes Racebook P4.jpg, Back cover showing entrance & railway charges Amounis 1926 Melbourne Stable Strapper George Phillips Trainer Frank McGrath

Amounis 1926 Melbourne Stable Strapper George Phillips Trainer Frank McGrath

Race record

At nine years: 1931-32 Did not race

Pedigree

References

External links

The Virtual FormGuideAustralian Museum and Racing Hall of Fame: AmounisThoroughbred Village
{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 1922 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Australia Racehorses trained in Australia Australian Racing Hall of Fame horses Caulfield Cup winners Cox Plate winners Thoroughbred family 5