By Michael Manley
Champion galloper Anamoe had to call on his fighting reserves to take out the Might And Power Stakes (2000m) in an ominous warning to his rivals in the final preliminary at Caulfield before the Cox Plate in a fortnight.
His trainer James Cummings was emotional after the win and said Anamoe had to be the champion he was to win what was a proper horse race.
He also pointed out that Anamoe was ready to peak in the Cox Plate, a race he finished an unlucky second in last year.
“Anamoe’s not at his best yet – he’s a run away from being at his best. We’re well and truly in business for his grand final,” Cummings said.
Anamoe firmed from $2.80 into a $2.60 favourite for the Cox Plate with Pointsbet after the win.
Anamoe, with James McDonald aboard, salutes past the finishing post.Credit:Getty Images
In an exciting finish, Anamoe ($2.15 favourite) finished off strongly, defeating I’m Thunderstuck ($7) by a long head with Zaaki ($5) the same margin away in third placing.
His jockey James McDonald said he had never felt prouder of Anamoe, who usually won with ease but he was wondering with 400m to go whether he was going to win.
“He had to lift off the canvas. I think he just crabbed around Caulfield, I really do. I would have lost two or three lengths on the bend. I was right up the clacker of Zaaki and then I ended up drifting right back. It wasn’t until we balanced up, stretched, he’s a champion racehorse.”
Cummings said in his pre-race chat to McDonald he emphasised that he should not go too early and wait until they were in the straight to make his run and he followed those instructions.
“I spoke to James (McDonald) about the race in detail and he was on my wavelength with the way the race should be run. I just begged him, ‘don’t come wide at the 600 – don’t fall for it, wait on the horse’.”
Cummings said with 400m to go McDonald would have been justified if he was worried at that stage all of his main dangers Zaaki, I’m Thunderstruck and Alligator Blood all looked to be travelling well.
“He was able to gather himself together and run a really impressive last furlong in a weight-for-age ten furlong race to demonstrate his class,” Cummings said.
It was Anamoe’s 10th win from 19 starts, his sixth at group 1 level and his third win from three starts this campaign.
Mick Price, co-trainer of the runner-up I’m Thunderstruck was thrilled with his galloper’s performance.
“I thought for once this time in, he was in a beautiful spot as Mark (Zahra) had taken his opportunity to find a good spot and be closer to Alligator Blood and then he took his opportunity to get off the fence,” Price said.
“It was a great test at weight-for-age and it proved that it’s in his DNA. I was happy to see him come on. We had every chance. Anamoe’s not a Caulfield horse but he’s the best weight-for-age horse in the land so to be beaten by him narrowly was a great effort.”
Annabel Neasham and Jamie Kah were both happy with the improved run of Zaaki to run third.
Neasham said Zaaki still had improvement to come and Kah said he was back to his best
Tim Clark, who rode Alligator Blood who tired to finish fourth said he ran well.
Craig Williams who rode the fifth placegetter Mr Brightside said if had settled “one spot closer” in the run he would have been in the finish.
