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Anamoe claims top two-year-old honours with runaway G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes win

Mike Hedge

Anamoe stamped his authority on a generation of Australian two-year-olds with a performance in Saturday’s Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick that gave nothing else a chance.

At the same time, the colt continued the outstanding form of his sire Street Boss and of a local Godolphin team that is setting the standard among juveniles this season.

Stepping up to 1,400m for the first time, Anamoe claimed his third win of the season and gave Godolphin it’s third G1 win of the year worldwide.

The colt had shown superior ability from the beginning, winning the Listed Merson Copper Stakes at Sandown last November at his second start and adding the G2 Todman Stakes at Rosehill at his fifth outing.

Either side of that race he was placed in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes and in the G1 Golden Slipper in which he finished second.

“He’s just come through the best of the two-year-old races that are around,” said trainer James Cummings.

“He’s graduated through all three of our stables, they’ve got their fingerprints all over this horse.

“I’m just incredibly proud that he’s able to absorb the pressure of those Group 1’s, the Blue Diamond, the Todman, the Slipper, and he turns up here and is just in absolute perfect condition.

“We were a bit tougher on him getting up to 1,400m.

“In fact I’ve been tough on him his whole racing career and there’s nothing that I’ve thrown at him that has been too hard for him.

Consideration will now be given to running Anamoe in the third leg of Sydney’s juvenile triple crown, the Champagne Stakes over 1,600m on Saturday, 24 April.

“I can’t see anything that would be around in the next two weeks that’s going to threaten Anamoe in the Champagne,” Cummings said.

“It’s just whether or not we’re comfortable to run the horse again. But it’s a long time to the Caulfield Guineas in October, and if that’s going to be our target race with him then it would be good just to have that strengthening run over a mile before we put him away for a short break.”

Given time to settle into his rhythm, Anamoe came with a withering burst over the final 400m, racing to the lead with 200m to run and then putting his rivals away in the run to the line, beating Hilal by 2-3/4 lengths with Captivant a further long head away.

The win was the 50th  at G1 for rider James McDonald who said it was a privilege to reach such a mark on a horse like Anamoe.

“He is the Rolls Royce of two-year-olds,” McDonald said.

“To come and do that to good quality horses in a Group 1 is just incredible.”

Anamoe’s win was one of three stakes victories on the day for Cumming-trained 2YOs with Paulele winning the G3 Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick and Cloudy taking the Listed Dequettville Stakes at Morphettville in Adelaide.

Paulele’s win was his third and his best, and prompted strong praise from his trainer.

“He’s a bit of a weapon this horse, Cummings said.

“He’s quick, he’s strong, that was a dominant win by a colt that can go on as a three-year-old and be a pretty nice horse.”

Jockey Damien Oliver offered a similar response to the win.

“He is a lovely type of horse so there is certainly room for improvement with him.”