He did it as a two-year-old, he did it twice at three but at four, Anamoe might just be at his best after returning a group 1 winner again in the Winx Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Godolphin decided to campaign the Street Boss stallion for another season, despite having a Sires Produce Stakes, Caulfield Guineas and Rosehill Guineas on his resume.
James McDonald on Anamoe (blue) wins the Winx Stakes on Saturday.Credit:Getty
It was certainly a gamble. But a brilliant colt can move men to tears as they fulfill their dreams and Anamoe did that on Saturday.
Godolphin trainer James Cummings spoke quietly with a tear in his eye following a win that confirmed his star at the top of Australian racing. Jockey James McDonald was the same after Anamoe joined Show Of Heart as the only horse to win convert group 1 wins at two and three into another at four against all comers.
“I reckon we are seeing the finished product, I’m so happy they brought him back,” McDonald said.
“He was a wind-up horse, but now he is just boom – you can put there.
“And then he goes boom.”
McDonald put Anamoe on the leader Hilal’s back from his inside gate and had no hesitation about going back to his inside, which was considered inferior ground, when he made his winning charge to leave his rivals in his wake.
Anamoe had 1¾ lengths to spare on Fangirl, which came from last, and a game Profondo on the line.
He has always had the explosive turn of foot but never the tactical ability to be in the first half. But with the combination of maturity, speed and a dynamic dash, Anamoe can continue to leave a legacy on the track in the next year.
“Dare I say it, I think he’s definitely gotten better from three to four,” McDoanld said. “Obviously some can, some don’t but this is a different horse.
“He’s more alert, he’s putting it all together. It was great to show a performance of a horse who is obviously improving.
“He will only get better as he gets on.”
Cummings can look to right the wrong of running second in last year’s Cox Plate, but there will be plenty stops along the way for Anamoe.
“He is the type of horse that can carry a stable. We are lucky to have him and I would like to see him keep progressing like that,” Cummings said.
“He is pretty special it will be a long time before we see one as good as him.
“If draws a gate in the [Golden] Slipper he might have won that and without an Irish horse in the Cox Plate, which wouldn’t have happen 10 years ago, he wins that.
“It is exciting to see what he might have in store.”
Zougotcha just like dad
Chris Waller compared Zougotcha to her sire Zoustar after she finally saw a dry track in Sydney and took advantage of it to take the Silver Shadow Stakes.
Willie Pike copied the Anamoe blueprint following the leader to the turn and then taking an inside run to score by 1¼ lengths, holding off favourite In Secret with North Star Lass hanging on for third.
Willie Pike returns to scale after winning on Zougotcha.Credit:Getty
“He’s pretty much like Zoustar really. He didn’t win the Group 1 up there [JJ Atkins] but he just exploded as a three-year-old,” Waller said. “It is good to see him putting so much into his progeny. They are exciting horses and she is an example of that.”
Pike believes Zougotcha has the mentality to add to her group 2 success.
“She definitely has that really good attitude. That ‘can do’ attitude, which is just fantastic,” he said.
King’s double as Zapateo toys with rivals
Rachel King continues to be Godolphin’s go-to lightweight rider and she gave another example why as Zapeteo made a one-act affair of the Toy Show Stakes on Saturday.
James Cummings opted to run the Brazen Beau mare, which is a half-sister to Everest placegetter Osborne Bulls, out of her grade in the listed race with only 53kg and she stamped herself as the one to beat in the set-weights mares races after a 2¾-length win from Jamaea.
King had Zapateo in the perfect position coming to the turn and then she cruised up and found the lead on the bridle before putting a gap in her rivals
“I knew she was going to have that really good turn of foot and I made sure I counted to about 20 when I turned the corner and she proved how good she is today,” King said.
Zapateo, ridden by Rachel King, gallops clear to win the Toy Show Stakes.Credit:Getty
“She’s not the biggest of fillies, but she’s definitely filled out a little bit. She’s stronger and she’s just a bit more mature as well.
“She still got a little bit keen early today, but pre-race, she was probably a bit better. She’s growing up all the time.
“She’s beaten them pretty convincingly today and I think there’s improvement to come.”
It was a stakes double for King, who also won the Premier’s Cup on Arapaho.
