Amounis was a contemporary of Phar Lap, who was regarded as almost invincible. Yet Amounis was able to beat him in two of their five encounters.

Biography

TRAINER: Frank McGrath

OWNERS: J.Cook, A.P.Wade, W.Pearson

RACE RECORD/STAKE MONEY: 33 wins, 11 seconds, 8 thirds/£48,298

Major Wins 

• Caulfield Cup
• Williamstown Cup
• Caulfield Stakes
• Epsom Handicap (twice)
• Rosehill Guineas
• W.S.Cox Plate

About

Amounis was bred at Percy Miller's famous stud at Scone. His purchase as a yearling by Joe Cook for 300 guineas was one of the great bargains of the turf. Over a period of eight seasons Amounis was to prove himself one of Australia's most hardy and versatile champions.

Unsuccessful as a two-year-old, Amounis registered six wins as a three-year-old, including the Hobartville Stakes and Rosehill Guineas. The following season he won his first Epsom Handicap, the Cantala, Linlithgow and Chipping Norton Stakes. His five and six-year-old seasons included a second Epsom Handicap, the W.S.Cox Plate and the Williamstown Cup.

Improving with age, Amounis won ten feature races as a seven-year-old and a further four as an eight-year-old including his famous victory in the 1930 Caulfield Cup carrying a record 9st 8lbs (61kg). When he and Phar Lap won the 1930 Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double, bookmakers throughout Australia suffered one of their most calamitous results ever as a consequence of the betting coup engineered by leviathan punter, Eric Connolly.

When Amounis retired as a ten-year-old, his stake winnings were £48,297, second only to those of Phar Lap.

Amounis was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2006.

Image Source: Australian Racing Museum Collection