In the post-Winx era, finding the next weight-for-age champion in Australian racing has been a challenge. However, as trainer James Cummings prepares Anamoe for his final Australian run on Saturday, he believes the Godolphin star has already carved out his own path to fame, with his finest moment potentially still ahead.
While Winx won most of her 25 G1s with remarkable ease, boasting an average winning margin of over three lengths, Anamoe’s nine G1 wins have come by a combined margin of 12.4 lengths, with an average of more than 1.3 lengths. This might suggest that Anamoe lacks the sheer dominance of his predecessor, but Cummings believes his ability to triumph in the face of adversity and adapt to changing race conditions highlights his exceptional quality.
Cummings dismissed the notion that Anamoe’s shorter winning margins diminish his achievements, telling RSN927, “It’s no fluke that his horse most often comes out the winner.” He added, “If you don’t just watch the last 400 metres of a race and watch the race in its entirety, go and watch the George Ryder and you can appreciate the amount of bottom that Anamoe has got.”
Anamoe’s trainer is confident about his chances in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, despite acknowledging the international threat, with Ranvet Stakes winner Dubai Honour currently the favorite ahead of Anamoe and Japanese contender Unicorn Lion. Speaking about Anamoe’s performance in the George Ryder, Cummings said, “Anamoe has got the depth and the rating to be able to rely on covering ground in a race like the George Ryder and still winning.”
Following Saturday’s race, Anamoe will head to the UK, where he may run in the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May as a precursor to his grand finale in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. Cummings expressed his excitement about Anamoe’s upcoming challenges, stating, “Everything we’ve stepped him up in distance, he’s run an even better race.”
