What’s In A Name? Amen Corner

With the Masters golf tournament being played at the famed Augusta National in April, you’re likely to hear the phrase “Amen Corner” a number of times during the broadcast, and it will play a big part in the destiny of this year’s first men’s Major. 

Amen Corner is the three-hole stretch at Augusta, holes Nos 11, 12 and 13 and it stands to reason that any horse owned by three-time champion Gary Player by this name relates to the Masters.

Bred by Millstream Farm, Amen Corner won first time out at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in March, leading from start to finish over 1000m. The winner is co-owned with Player by Petrus du Toit, Sterling Miller and James Grant.

Mark Bass, the racing and marketing manager at Bass Racing, where Amen Corner is trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, is a golf enthusiast himself and has had the rare privilege of attending the Masters. “I was the last person at Augusta National, I watched them mow the grass and walked the course after dark. Security had to ask me to leave!”

Amen Corner was always a name waiting for the right horse. “The Masters is the greatest golf Major and with Gary being involved with this filly we tried to find something to suit. This seemed the right moment,” said Bass. “She is a filly by The United States, which is obviously where the Masters is held, and she is out of the Trippi mare Bye Bye Baby.

“Those 11^th, 12^th and 13^th holes are so-named Amen Corner because it’s often where the tournament is won and lost and many contenders’ hopes disappear, so being out of Bye Bye Baby it seemed a perfect name. We pitched it to Gary and he loved the name and we put it on the group and the other owners were delighted.”

Amen Corner’s win came on her debut and was the only horse sired by The United States to win for Bass Racing this season – from their 56 winners heading into April.