Heavyweights back in business ahead of ambitious targets

G1 winners Proxy, Anamoe, In Secret and Golden Mile all returned to the track in recent days as they stepped up their preparations for significant objectives over the coming weeks.

Last season’s Clark Stakes hero Proxy came through his final major piece of work at Gulfstream Park on Saturday before his five-year-old return in the G1 Pegasus World Cup at the same course later this month.

Australian Champion Anamoe and In Secret both eased into their autumn campaigns when finishing mid-division in barrier trials at Warwick Farm on Monday, with Aft Cabin and Zapateo impressing on the same morning.

Anamoe, Godolphin’s most prolific G1 winner, has the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April as his main aim before a possible trip to Royal Ascot, with next month’s G2 Apollo Stakes a likely starting point.

Top filly In Secret, successful in the Coolmore Stud Stakes in October, could run on the Apollo Stakes card in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes before tackling the G1 Surround Stakes.

Caulfield Guineas scorer Golden Mile came through his trial at Royal Randwick a week earlier ahead of his intended return in Rosehill’s G2 Expressway Stakes later this month.

Valiant Prince looks set to tackle G1 company in the Jebel Hatta after he beat Dubai Future and Ottoman Fleet in the G2 Al Rashidiya – one of three Godolphin winners on week two of the Dubai World Cup Carnival.Soft Whisper edged out White Moonlight in the Ipi Tombe Stakes, while Electrical Storm secured a step up in class following a turf handicap victory.

Two homebred colts from Talismanic’s first crop recorded notable dirt wins in Japan, with Cam Ranh Bay scoring on debut at Nakayama and Weathercock taking a Kokura maiden by eight lengths.

This week’s Dubai World Cup Carnival meeting includes the G2 Zabeel Mile, which is due to feature the 2021 2,000 Guineas runner-up Master Of The Seas.