Anamoe has stamped himself as the best horse in the country with a dominant win in the centenary edition of the W.S Cox Plate going one better than last year when he was runner-up in the best weight for age race in Australia.
It was a brilliant ride from James McDonald who rode Anamoe as though he was on the best horse in the race sitting fourth until the tempo lifted at the 300-metre mark when he moved the horse wide to run down the leader Zaaki as I’m Thunderstruck and El Bodegon chased him down to run second and third.
Anamoe, ridden by James McDonald, soars to the win.Credit:Racing Photos / Getty Images
An emotional James Cummings – the grandson of legendary trainer Bart Cummings – said it was a humbling experience for him to train the winner who has now one four group ones as a four-year-old.
“It is a proper Cox Plate and it is a humbling privilege to win it,” Cummings told Channel Seven.
He said the difficulties in the preparation would “drive a lesser man to the bottle” as he reflected on winning the race for the Godolphin stable.
Anamoe has now won more group ones for Godolphin than any other horse, having finished second to State of Rest in 2021 and then failing to win the race in the stewards room after protesting.
It was McDonald’s first Cox Plate win.
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