It was a centenary Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) to remember with last year’s runner-up Anamoe returning to go one better and salute for the punters in the 100th edition of the ‘race where champions are made’.
Anamoe was too good for his rivals saluting for the punters in the 2022 Ladbrokes Cox Plate results. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The gun young son of Street Boss atoned for his devastatingly close second to Ireland’s State Of Rest last spring and stamp himself as one of the greats, Anamoe adding his name to the list of legendary Cox Plate winners in a stunning victory for the Godolphin stable.
The James Cummings-trained favourite came into the weight-for-age feature having won all three lead-up races in elite level company.
“He’s a beautiful horse,” Cummings told Racing.com post-win.
“He’s been a pleasure to train.
“That’s a proper horse race, the best horse race I’ve had anything to do with.
“It’s a humbling experience for me, and I’m just grateful I can have anything to do with a horse as great as Anamoe.”
Fresh in Sydney he completed the Winx Stakes – George Main Stakes double before a final warm-up in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield.
“The truth is he’s just had a gun preparation,” McDonald said.
“My team have come together in phenomenal fashion to have him arrive in absolute perfect shape.
“Half-way through the race I couldn’t help but feel very calm about it…everything went to script.
“The horse was in absolute mint condition to perform.
“The right horses have run second and third, so it’s a proper Cox Plate and it’s humbling to be winning it.
“Four Group 1 wins out of four this preparation! It’s hard enough o win one Group 1 let alone a picket fence.
“This horse….he’s just that good.
“There’s Anamoe. Four out of four this preparation and now a Cox Plate winner.”
Franking that form on Cox Plate Day, Anamoe was given a peach of a ride by jockey James McDonald who celebrated his 72nd Group 1 winning ride and first Cox Plate aboard the superstar.
It was an atoning result for not only the horse, but also for McDonald who missed out on a ride in the race last year after the favourite Zaaki was scratched the morning of.
“It’s the best isn’t it, it’s the weight-for-age championship,” he said.
“It’s the best horses assembled and I was on a champion today.
“It’s been a big build-up. The Ladbrokes Cox Plate. It’s unbelievable.
“Especially on this horse.
“I felt the tension, I could cut it with a butter knife. It’s good to get it over and done with.
“I don’t know how Hughie (Bowman) did it with four of them (on Winx)! What a race.
“Full credit to this racehorse. He’s incredible.”
The Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki returned in 2022 to lead the field around, eventually beaten on the short straight to finish fourth.
After sitting fourth throughout in the perfect position one off the fence, Anamoe joined in approaching the turn for home before taking the lead 150m out from the line.
From there he charged home for a stylish Cox Plate victory for the punters with a quarter-length to spare over the brilliant I’m Thunderstruck.
The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained runner-up showed what he was made of coming from the back with a weaving late run to finish second again in a repeat of the Might And Power quinella.
Also eye-catching to round out this season’s Cox Plate trifecta in third was the Chris Waller-trained import El Bodegon in his Australian debut.
With the riches of the world stage calling for Anamoe next year, the team could first back him up on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in the Group 1 $3 million VRC Champions Stakes (2000m).
Anamoe heads all-in 2022 Champions Stakes betting at $2.30 through Ladbrokes just ahead of the Cox Plate place-getters Zaaki and El Bodegon at $5 for the rematch at Flemington on November 5.
