James Mcdonald has ranked Anamoe among the best horses he has ridden after the entire put together back-to-back wins for the first time in his career with a dominant performance in the Group 1 George Main Stakes.
Underlining his star quality, Anamoe ($1.65 fav) showed his versatility to sit outside leader Hinged before getting the better of her and staving off the bid of Icebath ($13) to beat the Brad Widdup-trained mare by three-quarters of a length with Hinged ($10) holding third another half-length away.
McDonald was left in awe of the four-year-old and said Anamoe was top shelf.
“He’s exceptional, he’s up there with the best I’ve sat on,” McDonald said.
“Every time I’m on him you feel like he is invincible. He oozes that much class
“Zaaki is the same. You hop on them and they puff themselves up – it’s an incredible feeling.”
McDonald said he hadn’t wanted to sit outside the leader but once he found himself there, he backed his horse to get the job done.
“Sometimes you have to take your medicine,” McDonald said.
“A more genuine run race is more up his alley. He has a lethal turn of foot but his asset is he can sustain it better than others.”
James Cummings is yet to lock in Anamoe’s next target but the Caulfield Stakes in three weeks is high on the agenda.
Whichever way Godolphin choose to go, Cummings believes Saturday’s George Main Stakes (1600m) will prove an important spring stepping-stone.
“It signalled his intent and the remainder of the campaign he can keep his eyes on the big targets ahead and he can let them all know he’s coming for them,” Cummings said.
“We’re very grateful to have him and that’s the most important thing, and now it’s about letting reality play out, focus on what we’ve got to do and let Anamoe do the talking.
“He’s very economical in his action, he’s the alpha male in his demeanour.”
Widdup was thrilled with the run of Icebath after scratching her from the Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle on Friday and said she was spot-on for the Epsom Handicap in two weeks.
