Renowned ratings expert Daniel O’Sullivan has weighed in on the debate surrounding Anamoe and his ability to compete against Europe’s racing titans. O’Sullivan believes that Anamoe must push his limits and surpass his personal best in order to stand a chance in the high-stakes world of horse racing.
Anamoe recently finished third in the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, a solid two-and-a-half lengths behind Dubai Honour. This performance has left critics questioning his aptitude for the 2000m distance. However, O’Sullivan dismisses these concerns as a “huge knee-jerk reaction.”
O’Sullivan emphasizes that Anamoe’s three best career ratings have all been achieved at 2000m, and he has consistently improved when stepping up from 1600m to 2000m. In contrast, Dubai Honour’s impressive ratings figure in the Ranvet Stakes (G1, 2000m) surpasses Anamoe’s peak rating, solidifying Dubai Honour’s position as a stronger contender.
While Anamoe’s performance in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes was slightly off his peak, O’Sullivan insists that it wasn’t a distance issue, but rather “a talent issue vs Dubai Honour and a slight off day vs the rest.”
As Anamoe gears up to represent Godolphin and Australia at the prestigious Royal Ascot, he must strive for a new career peak to be competitive at the elite level. O’Sullivan explains, “He’s a very good and consistent Group 1 weight-for-age horse that can win some races in the UK at 2000m or 1600m, but to truly challenge the upper echelon, he needs to go to a higher level than he’s ever been before.” The racing world eagerly awaits to see whether Anamoe can rise to the occasion and make a significant impact on the European racing circuit.
