The Godolphin-raced young gun Anamoe looks well positioned to atone for his devasting second last year coming up trumps with barrier four in Saturday’s 12-horse Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2022 final field.

Might And Power champ Anamoe is the dominant favourite for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2022. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Last Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival the James Cummings-trained son of Street Boss won the Caulfield Guineas over a mile before crossing second by the barest of margins behind Irish raider State Of Rest in the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m).

It was a controversial finish and jockey Craig Williams lodged a protest that, after an excruciatingly long wait for connections of both horses, was dismissed and the second placing for Anamoe stood.

The now four-year-old has gone from strength-to-strength since picking up four subsequent Group 1 victories.

The latest three of those have been on the trot this time in with the horse taking out the Winx Stakes – George Main Stakes double in Sydney before heading south for a gutsy victory in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m).

Anamoe now sits top of the Cox Plate odds online at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au paying $2.40 to keep the wins going with the in-form James McDonald continuing associations.

Last spring the Annabel Neasham-trained Zaaki was dominating Cox Plate betting right up until race morning when, in a huge blow for the team, he was scratched due to an elevated temperature.

Zaaki is back this year as an evergreen eight-year-old presenting fit fourth-up and looking to improve on his third when only a quarter-length off Zaaki in the Might And Power last time out.

Jamie Kah partners the $4.40 second elect with Zaaki drawn the inside alley that last produced a winner in 2015 when the mighty mare Winx won the first of her eventual four Cox Plates.

Neahsam dominates the Cox Plate field numbers-wise this spring saddling-up a total of three runners with Zaaki joined by stablemates Mo’unga ($31) and recent Group 1 Toorak Handicap runner-up Laws Of Indices ($26).

The only other galloper currently under double-figures in the markets is the Chris Waller-trained Irish import El Bodegon at $7 to win his Australian race debut.

Waller is after his fifth Cox Plate trophy after the aforementioned four-peat of Winx and looks in with a genuine chance saddling-up Kodiac four-year-old El Bodegon in barrier eight with Damien Oliver to ride.

The well-performed entire has had nine starts to date for three wins and a further five minor placings, the majority at the highest level in Europe.

The other best out of the Might And Power lead-up meanwhile is the Price/Kent runner-up I’m Thunderstruck ($13) out wide in gate 10 on Saturday with Mark Zahra in the saddle.

The Shocking five-year-old has been solid this prep including winning the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) and was so close to Anamoe over this distance at Caulfield a fortnight back.

Other notable Cox Plate horses include Might And Power fourth place-getter Mr Brightside ($17), the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained close Caulfield Cup runner-up on the quick turnaround Gold Trip ($21) and Group 1 Turnbull Stakes runner-up Maximal ($51) scratched from last weekend’s Caulfield Cup.

Click here for the latest Cox Plate 2022 betting odds thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au.

2022 Cox Plate Final Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.