In these days of protected champions and stallions, Anamoe stands out as a star who has taken every challenge, so it was not surprising Godolphin decided to keep him on the track this season.
It wasn’t the right decision commercially, due to the risk involved in racing on as a four-year-old, but Godolphin Australia boss Vin Cox and trainer James Cummings could be ready to cash in around the world with the Street Boss entire.
James McDonald celebrates as Anamoe wins the Wainx Stakes at Randwick on SaturdayCredit:Getty
“When we sat down there were more people at the table that wanted to see him at stud,” Cox said. “He is a valuable colt on what he did at two and three, but Godolphin want to race as well.
“It was a tough choice because the risk was so great, it looks a good one now.”
Anamoe’s commanding return as a mature beast in the Winx Stakes showed he had added strings to his bow that he didn’t have when winning the Sires Produce Stakes, Caulfield Guineas and Rosehill Guineas.
“He can put himself in the race now,” James McDonald said. “He is just better and I was never worried on him at all [in the Winx Stakes]. He is only going to get better.”
If Anamoe had that racecraft as a three-year-old it’s fair to say his photo-finish seconds in the Golden Rose, Cox Plate and Randwick Guineas would likely have forced him to the Hunter Valley rather than Godolphin’s Osborne Park training establishment.
Cummings was confident the right decision had been made for the past couple of weeks as he watched Anamoe work in the mornings.
“You know in the back of your mind that means nothing, you have to do it on the race day, so the pressure was implied on all of us before Saturday,” Cummings said.
“He has been airborne but it’s the score you write down on raceday and he put a one on the card.
“It was a great feeling because if he hadn’t done that you knew the stallions start serving in 10 days time and it would be hard to live with making the wrong choice.”
Anamoe (right) goes down by the barest of margins to State of Rest in last year’s Cox Plate.Credit:Getty
Anamoe will probably only be seen at the top level from now on and the unfinished business in the Cox Plate makes it the spring target.
Punters will see him for another 12 months with the autumn to provide a swansong before possibly taking on Europe.
“If he is still in good form we would love to take him over there in front of the boss,” Cox said. “We haven’t been scared of challenges with him, so far.”
Cummings hinted that Anamoe could be trained as a sprinter, which would bring into the equation the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot and July Cup on the stiff course at Newmarket. There would also be an option to run in the Queen Anne Stakes down the straight mile at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes and maybe even some races in France.
Maher looks forward to Golden Eagle with Light Infantry
Ciaron Maher can’t wait for Light Infantry to arrive in Australia for the Golden Rose as part of a tour of the biggest meetings in the world.
The son of Fast Company has been a group 1 runner-up twice at Deauville in the Prix Jean Prat over 1400m and Prix Jacques le Marois at a mile since Maher purchased a 50-per-cent share for Colin McKenna and Ozzie Kheir.
“I saw him while I was in Europe and Colin and Ozzie wanted a horse that could race at Royal Ascot next year and I told them this was their horse,” Maher said.
“His trainer David Simcock wanted to keep half, so he will come to us for the Golden Eagle and then go back to him for a European campaign next year.
Golden Eagle fancy Light Infantry wins at Yarmouth in England last year.Credit:Getty
“The Golden Eagle is a great chance to get back what we have paid for him and it will be his next start.”
Australian Turf Club racing manager James Ross is expecting the Canterbury quarantine centre to be full with 16 horses with the plane from Europe to arrive on Everest day.
“There are half a dozen one-way horses and there will be a number of horses coming for the Golden Eagle from European stables, which will be confirmed in the next couple of weeks,” Ross said.
Jamaea lays down Toy Show marker
Godolphin mare Zapateo was explosive racing away with the Toy Show Stakes but runner-up Jamaea ran a quicker final 600m after nearly being pulled up by Tommy Berry in the early stages.
Berry was so concerned about Jamaea, who stuck herself on a couple of occasions coming out of the 1100m start, he even rang co-trainer Luke Price on Saturday night.
“She’s fine, but Tommy was very worried,” Price said. “He came back and said he nearly pulled her up because of the way she felt after it happened.
“It meant she lost her position in the field and gave the winner too much start, but she smashed the clock and she in for a big preparation.”
Unbeaten Zoukerino to take next step in San Domenico
The rapid progression of Rosebud winner Zoukerino will take another step up in grade in the San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
John O’Shea was patient with the unbeaten Snitzel colt during the wet past 12 months and Zoukerino has delivered in both his starts.
“We always thought that he was a stakes horse in the making, and he got there quickly at just his second start. This is the level he is at now,” O’Shea said. “He steps out against some proven horses from the autumn, but we are confident he is still improving and getting better and will be up to it.”
O’Shea will send Hell I Am, who took care of the older horses at Canterbury last Wednesday, to the Up And Coming Stakes on Saturday.
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