The Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) is next-up for Godolphin ace Anamoe who produced a flawless first-up performance to defeat the Waller-trained mares Hinged and Fangirl fresh in the 2023 Apollo Stakes results.
Anamoe got his autumn underway in style winning the 2023 Apollo Stakes first-up in Sydney. Photo: Steve Hart.
The $10.7 million earner celebrated his first victory since the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) last October and was far too good for his rivals in the Group 2 $250,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.
Jockey James McDonald continued associations with the horse described by the stable as a “weapon” giving the four-year-old son of Street Boss a 10/10 ride.
“He did it in the Cox Plate, I shouldn’t say that because he was all out, he was doing his best. But today I really felt him just clock off with 150m to go. Trying to encourage him and he’s only just put a half a length on Hinged. But great horse Hinged, Fangirl in third, it’s a proper race,” McDonald told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He’s a phenomenal horse and the reason being he’s got an amazing demeanour and conserves energy in the race like no horse I’ve ever ridden.
“He doesn’t spend a penny. As a two-year-old he used to have a wow factor, putting a field away. But as these stallions get older, he’s lost that.”
Everything went to plan for the heavily-backed odds-on fancy who jumped at $1.60 and became the shortest-priced Apollo Stakes winner since the mighty Winx posted her third in 2019 at $1.10.
McDonald had Anamoe mid-field early before moving up to settle on-speed just off the pace makers one out one back with cover.
The top-liner was in the prime position ready to pounce, going to the outside on the home straight and moving up to tackle the leader Hinged 150m out from the line.
From there he pulled clear and won without breaking a sweat as Hinged held for a nice second ahead of her fast-finishing stablemate Fangirl who made up ground from the back after being slow out.
“James McDonald made it look absolutely painless,” Cummings said.
“He allowed him to use his ability to be prominent in these weight for age races and he was terrific.
“Very proud of Anamoe and it’s great for the team to have the big horse back. There’s a lot we can look forward to.”
Having launched his autumn campaign with the ideal run in the Group 2, Anamoe will now return to Randwick in a fortnight returning to Group 1 grade for the Chipping Norton Stakes over a mile.
“The Chipping Norton looks the nice progression for him. Here in two weeks and he’ll be ready to fire again,” Cummings confirmed.
Anamoe heads all-in 2023 Chipping Norton Stakes odds at $1.80 through Ladbrokes.
