Anamoe goes about his business at Flemington with ‘beautiful’ track gallop

Cox Plate favourite Anamoe was absent at The Valley but trainer James Cummings said his superstar didn’t miss a beat at Flemington.

Anamoe ridden by James McDonald wins the Neds Might And Power at Caulfield Racecourse on October 08, 2022 in Caulfield, Australia. (Photo by Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

There was no good news for Anamoe’s rivals after Cox Plate favourite Anamoe galloped at Flemington on Tuesday morning.

Godolphin decided to keep the star stallion at headquarters rather than send him 10 minutes up the road to The Valley for his final piece of work before Saturday’s $5m championship.

Anamoe has had a huge 2022 with another four Group 1 wins to his name but trainer James Cummings said the son of Street Boss showed no signs of fatigue in his 1400m gallop with race jockey James McDonald aboard.

“His work was beautiful,” Cummings said.

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“He’s a lovely, relaxed horse and he had his head tucked down as he sauntered on to the track and he travelled up to working companion feeling good about his business.

“He looked great in his action, he sounded good and pulled up clean in the wind.

“What needed to be done was done.”

Interestingly, Anamoe eased from $2.10 to $2.30 in TAB’s Cox Plate market on Tuesday with newly-arrived international runner El Bodegon firming from $9 to $7.

Anamoe’s price eased despite Godolphin enjoying the perfect morning on Tuesday with the Cox Plate barrier draw also going to plan.

James McDonald celebrates Anamoe’s win in the Might And Power at Caulfield. Picture: George Sal-Racing Photos via Getty Images

Anamoe’s number was the third drawn, which gave the team the chance to grab barrier four for the six-time Group 1 winner.

“The draw is good for Anamoe and it continues a good trend for him where he’s going to map well again,” Cummings said.

“I don’t think James McDonald wants to be too far away and I think if we could land, third, fourth or fifth would be ideal.

“When you’re the third horse picked in a draw where you’re nervously selecting your own barrier, it’s pretty good.”

Anamoe was part of one of the Cox Plate’s most controversial moments when narrowly beaten before stewards controversially dismissed jockey Craig Williams’ protest against State Of Rest.

Cummings said Godolphin quickly moved on from that episode before beginning Anamoe’s road to his second crack at the Cox Plate earlier this year.

“There are other races for Anamoe that have been important too and since that time where he was narrowly touched off in that Cox Plate as a three-year-old, he’s bolted in with a Rosehill Guineas,’ Cummings said.

Originally published as Anamoe goes about his business at Flemington with ‘beautiful’ track gallop