Godolphin boss Vin Cox reveals just how close Anamoe was to being retired

Godolphin’s Australian boss Vin Cox says powerful forces within the organisation were keen to retire Anamoe to stud and it was a high-pressure decision which kept the freak horse racing.

James McDonald on Anamoe wins the Group 1 Winx Stakes. Picture: Getty Images.

As racing cries out for poster horses, Godolphin’s Australian boss has revealed just how close freakish Group 1 star Anamoe was to being retired to stud.

Anamoe was the Group 1 Winx Stakes hero as he resumed in stunning fashion as a four-year-old, claiming his fourth Group 1 and starting an exhilarating march towards possible Cox Plate redemption.

But Vin Cox, Godolphin’s managing director in Australia, has now revealed how powerful forces within the global Blue Army had been keen to retire Anamoe to stud.

Cox made the bold call which led to Anamoe racing on – it was that fascinating background which was one of the reasons for James Cummings’ tears when the champion horse resumed a Group 1 winner.

“If the truth be known, there was more within our (Godolphin) organisation and those that we report to that would have rather that he (Anamoe) went to stud,” Cox told RadioTab’s Past The Post Show on Sunday.

“I talk to James (Cummings) and we are close in these sort of discussions and then you talk to the other side of the business and see where he (Anamoe) sits and report to the northern hemisphere.

“Ultimately, it came down to two or three of us that made the call.

“I’m the managing director so it starts and ends there.

“When you make a decision as we did to keep this horse in training, there is a fair bit of pressure that comes on.

“There are a lot of advisers and experts out there that say ‘no, you’ve just got to retire him to stud’, that’s the easiest step you can take.

“But we made the call that we are going to keep him in work.

“We took the risk, and for him to do that in a Group 1 race it justifies and vindicates what we thought and what we hoped.”

Godolphin’s Australian boss Vin Cox. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Although an overseas campaign next year has not been ruled out, all roads lead towards the 2022 Cox Plate for Anamoe after the extraordinary scenes last year when many felt he should have won on protest over State Of Rest.

“It’s one of the great races on the Australian calendar, there is unfinished business there,” Cox said.

Meanwhile, a “monster offer” from Hong Kong for rising star Uncommon James has been rejected.

Uncommon James wins the Listed Regal Roller Stakes. Picture: Getty Images.

Uncommon James is trained by Queenslanders Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted and is owned and bred by Hoysted’s wife Caitlin.

Trainer Matthew Hoysted and wife Caitlin Hoysted who bred and owns Uncommon James. Picture: Getty Images.

He is the $4.50 favourite for the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on September 17 after trouncing his rivals when making a head-turning Melbourne debut.

“We received an absolute monster offer for him from Hong Kong, it was very much a substantial offer, crazy money,” Hoysted said.

“But Caitlin and her family have been breeding horses for quite a long time and he’s by far their best horse.

“They just want to enjoy that, the whole family.

“They are not wanting that ride to stop just yet, it looks like we are only starting to get warmed up.

“Uncommon James will be continuing to race here in Australia.”

Originally published as Godolphin boss Vin Cox reveals just how close Anamoe was to being retired