Champion Anamoe and English raider Dubai Honour set to clash in the race of the year for Queen Elizabeth Stakes
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick is shaping as a race for the ages with the clash of local champion Anamoe and the impressive English raider Dubai Honour.
Godolphin Australia supremo Vin Cox admitted to having “guarded optimism” about champion Anamoe’s chances of farewelling Australian racing with a win in the Group 1 $5m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick next month.
Anamoe has been almost invincible this season with seven wins from eight starts, six at Group 1 level including the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday.
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But Horse of the Year-elect Anamoe’s perceived vice-like grip on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 8 was loosened when English raider Dubai Honour raced away with the Ranvet Stakes by nearly five lengths.
Anamoe, trained by James Cummings, had been the only horse in single figure odds for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for weeks and although he retained TAB Fixed Odds favouritism after his Ryder win, he’s eased from $2.30 to $2.50 with Dubai Honour firming from $11 to $3.
"IT'S ANAMOE'S GEORGE RYDER!"
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 18, 2023
The champion did it tough today to win his 9th Group 1!@mcacajamez@JamesCummings88@godolphinpic.twitter.com/8mRiwNLngJ
Cox conceded Dubai Honour could not have been more impressive winning the Ranvet by a widening margin.
“It was a very, very good win by Dubai Honour, the way he put that field away,’’ Cox said. “Most of the horses he defeated Anamoe has been racing leading into the Ranvet.
“Dubai Honour brought some very good European formlines to Sydney, he did run second in the Champions Stakes at Ascot in 2021, so he’s obviously a horse with plenty of ability.
“Isn’t the Queen Elizabeth Stakes setting up well with Dubai Honour being so dominant in the Ranvet and Anamoe winning the Ryder. We will go there with guarded optimism, I guess, now.’’
Anamoe endured a wide run in the George Ryder Stakes and although his winning margin was only slender, there was a lot of merit in his ninth career Group 1 win.
“Champions find a way to win and he is certainly that,’’ Cox said.
“The way the crowd got behind him, he’s the people’s horse these days and we are so thrilled to be a part of it.
“With his race record, his profile continues to build. We took a gamble last year and didn’t retire him to stud, which a lot of people would have done, but chanced our arm and he has won another six Group 1 races this season.
“Anamoe has now won nine Group 1 races in his career which is the most Group 1 wins for any horse raced by Sheikh Mohammed – and that’s a pretty significant statistic in itself given the investment Sheikh Mohammed has made in world racing.’’
English maestro William Haggas, trainer of Dubai Honour, knows the type of horse required to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes having been successful twice with Addeybb in 2020 and 2021.
Dubai Honour dominates the Group 1 Ranvet!@WilliamHaggas has done it again - this time with Ryan Moore, who brings up Group 1 win #169!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 18, 2023
Bring on the Queen Elizabeth. ðª pic.twitter.com/x2FE6dH0m8
Haggas missed both those wins due to the global pandemic but confirmed he will make the trip to Sydney for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes next month.
“I’m planning to arrive in Sydney on April 3,’’ Haggas said. “It was disappointing not being there for Addeybb so I am looking forward to coming down your way this year.’’
Haggas said Dubai Honour has put behind him an indifferent 2022 campaign and showed he was back to his brilliant best in the Ranvet Stakes.
“We will go to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes from here with Dubai Honour,’’ Haggas said.
“I’m still debating whether to run (Sky High Stakes winner) Protagonist in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes or the Doncaster Mile.’’
Haggas also confirmed stable jockey Tom Marquand has recovered from a shoulder injury and has returned to Sydney with plans to ride at the barrier trials on Tuesday ahead of the Tancred Stakes meeting at Rosehill next Saturday.
Originally published as Champion Anamoe and English raider Dubai Honour set to clash in the race of the year for Queen Elizabeth Stakes