Cox Plate favourite Anamoe primed for legacy performance, champion jockey James McDonald says

Hot favourite Anamoe still has improvement in him according to jockey James McDonald as he gears up for a legacy performance in Saturday’s $5m Cox Plate at The Valley.

Anamoe arrived in the nick of time to beat I’m Thunderstruck and Zaaki in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos

Gilbert Gardiner and Clinton Payne

Champion jockey James McDonald says superstar Anamoe has “another gear to give”, in an ominous warning ahead of Saturday’s $5m Group 1 W.S Cox Plate (2040m).

Favourite Anamoe has yet to be confirmed as a galloper at Breakfast with the Best on Tuesday morning at The Valley, prior to the barrier draws for Friday night’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes and the Cox Plate.

Anamoe stamped his authority for the Cox Plate, the greatest two minutes in sport, with a stirring come-from-behind Group 1 Might And Power Stakes triumph at Caulfield.

With the Might And Power, Anamoe’s sixth Group 1 success and third straight, the stallion equalled the global record number of top class wins for a Godolphin horse.

Fantastic Light, retired in 2001, held the Blue Army racing and breeding empire’s record for 21 years.

McDonald, who boasts a remarkable Group 1 strike rate in Melbourne the past two seasons, eight wins from 16 starts in elite races, is bracing for a legacy performance from Anamoe.

“The scary thing about Anamoe is I still think there’s another gear to give,” McDonald said.

“A horse like Zaaki, you know what you get, you know his level, Anamoe races to the level he needs to, but in his arsenal is another level.

“I don’t think I’ve got to the bottom of him yet, one day, I don’t know when it is, he’ll put in a Zaaki-like Doomben Cup performance.

“Honestly, I think one day he’s just going to absolutely destroy a field.”

McDonald has ridden Cox Plate rival Zaaki in nine of his 17 Australian starts, including the seven-length Group 1 Doomben Cup demolition last year.

"HERE COMES ANAMOE!"

THAT WAS EPIC! 🔥 @[e-mail]/AKyj2OTmmU

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 8, 2022

Unable to ride both in the spring due to clashing schedules, McDonald sided with Anamoe over Zaaki after back-to-back Group 1 wins on the stallion in Sydney.

“He’s one of the most raw and talented horses I’ve had the pleasure to work with,” McDonald said.

Melbourne Cup-winner McDonald’s rapidly improving Group 1 tally (71) includes a swag of top class wins on Nature Strip, Verry Elleegant, Dundeel and Zaaki.

Anamoe’s relative youth and upside swayed McDonald over Zaaki, “the benchmark weight-for-age performer over that (2000m) trip”.

“It was a tough decision because I get on so well with the connections of both horses, but youth prevailed,” McDonald said.

“I think Anamoe can put in a performance of something really special fourth up … to really put in an unbelievable performance one day.

“He’s become so adaptable, a lovely horse to ride, not a lot of chinks in his armour to be fair, he can race anywhere in the field, he goes on any ground and he goes on any track.

“You’re basically ticking boxes, so to speak, I’m not saying Zaaki is not the complete package either, but I’ve won three Group 1s on him this prep and he’s hard to jump off.”

Cox Plate rivals Zaaki, I’m Thunderstruck, Alligator Blood, Mr Brightside, El Bodegon are slated to gallop at The Valley on Tuesday, along with Profondo, Maximal and Laws Of Indices.

Manikato aspirants including exciting three-year-old colt Best Of Bordeaux, Jamaea and Eleven Eleven are also down to check out The Valley.