2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
Betting | Horse Racing Today | News | Race Results | Spring Racing | Winter Racing |The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained Cox...
The James Cummings-trained Anamoe proved himself a true weight-for-age star securing his sixth Group 1 victory in a thrilling edition of the 2022 Might And Power ahead of his grand final in a fortnight.
Anamoe ran the ideal Cox Plate trial saluting for the punters in a fighting finish in the 2022 Might And Power. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Godolphin-raced gun was favourite to keep his elite level wins coming on the back of the Winx Stakes – George Main Stakes double in Sydney, and Anamoe was too good for them again heading south on Caulfield Guineas Day.
Twelve months on from his win in the Caulfield Guineas as a three-year-old, the talented son of Street Boss franked the form with a gutsy effort to hold out I’m Thunderstruck and Zaaki in the Group 1 $1 million Might And Power (2000m).
“That was a proper horse race wasn’t it,” winning trainer Cummings told Racing.com after the victory.
“Anamoe had to be the best horse. He had to be the champion.
“He’s a serious racehorse and I’m just so wrapped to see him trotting back to scale beautiful and free in his style.
“Great credit to the team to have him here in impeccable condition today.”
Jockey James McDonald, now a 69-time Group 1 winning hoop, followed instructions and settled back fourth one off the fence throughout on the very lucrative stallion before coming down the middle of the track on the home straight.
It was the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Underwood Stakes winner, Alligator Blood, in his first 2000m test leading this year’s Might And Power field around.
Anamoe meanwhile slotted in one off in a gun position stalking, while the Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki revved up on the outside to settle second and I’m Thunderstruck ran around on pace in third.
Zaaki put the pressure on the front-runner towards the railway side before moving up to go toe-for-toe with Alligator Blood from the 600m.
With 300m left to travel, those two were battling it out before Anamoe and I’m Thunderstruck came with their runs to wear them down.
At the 100m Anamoe ran over the top of them and narrowly held off his rivals to stamp himself as the best middle-distance weight-for-age performer in the country.
“He was able to gather himself together and run a really impressive last furlong in a weight-for-age, 10-furlong race and to demonstrate his class,” Cummings added.
“He just keeps justifying the decision…to keep him in training.”
Anamoe will now head to Moonee Valley on October 22 for the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m).
“Anamoe’s not at his best yet,” Cummings warned.
“He’s a run away I hope at being at his best and we’re well and truly in business for his grand final.”
Anamoe was runner-up after an unsuccessful protest in one of the tightest Cox Plate results in history last spring behind Irish raider State Of Rest.
The Cox Plate 2022 remains an open race with the Might And Power place-getters sure to be challenging Anamoe once again after their tight fight to the line today.
Winx (2016) was the last galloper to complete the Might And Power (Caulfield) Stakes – Cox Plate double in a single season.
All-in Cox Plate odds online at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au have Anamoe as the $2.70 favourite to be the next and are available in full here.
Zaaki is the $6 second favourite followed by I’m Thunderstruck ($7) and Alligator Blood ($8).
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 7 | ANAMOE | James Cummings | James McDonald | 3 | 58kg | $2.15F | |||
2 | 2 | I’M THUNDERSTRUCK (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Mark Zahra | 0.2L | 1 | 59kg | $7 | ||
3 | 1 | ZAAKI (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Ms Jamie Kah | 0.4L | 7 | 59kg | $5 | ||
4 | 4 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | Ben & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 2.15L | 4 | 59kg | $21 | ||
5 | 3 | ALLIGATOR BLOOD | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 2.25L | 5 | 59kg | $7 | ||
6 | 8 | BENAUD | John O’Shea | Damian Lane | 2.45L | 8 | 58kg | $19 | ||
7 | 6 | NONCONFORMIST | Grahame Begg | Jordan Childs | 2.55L | 2 | 59kg | $71 | ||
8 | 5 | MO’UNGA (NZ) | Annabel Neasham | Damien Oliver | 2.75L | 6 | 59kg | $11 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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