Horlicks was by Three Legs (GB) from the unraced mare, Malt, by Moss Trooper (USA).
Her owner, Graham W. de Gulthy of Hastings, sent Horlicks to train with Dave and Paul O'Sullivan in April of 1986.
[2] When she entered the O'Sullivan stable, she was not considered to be a fast horse, with her taking more than 15 seconds to complete a 1 furlong run[3] and was even suggested by her trainer to send her back to the ranch at one point.
[2] Before coming to Japan that year, she ran the DB Draught Classic in March and won her second Group 1 title, and her third at the Australian LKS MacKinnon Stakes.
Oguri Cap tried to overtake her at the final stretch, but Horlicks managed to lead the mare by a neck, setting a world record of 2:22.2.
Her winning the Japan Cup was considered to be Horlick's career highlight when she was inducted in to the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.