Australia: Anamoe goes 1 better than last year to win Cox Plate

Anamoe, who finished a disputed second last year, went one better Saturday to win the Group 1, US$3,718,425 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Australia.

Sent off as the post-time favorite in the 1 1/4-mile turf race, Anamoe (7-5) finished a long neck ahead of I’m Thunderstruck (9-1) with Bodegon (5-1) another long head behind in third.

The winning time was 2:10.17 on a course rated soft after a soaking thunderstorm that had canceled racing the night before.

The victory for the 4-year-old Street Boss colt bred and owned by Godolphin was retribution for last year’s narrow loss to State of Rest. That race was followed by an unsuccessful protest by trainer James Cummings.

With jockey James McDonald stalking the early pace, Anamoe got the call to move forward with three furlongs to go. He grabbed the lead just after he turned into the short, 189-yard homestretch. Then he had to hold off the late rallies by I’m Thunderstruck and El Bodegon to seal the victory.

It was the first triumph in the Cox Plate for both McDonald and Cummings, whose late grandfather Bart trained five winners in the race that was first run 100 years ago.

By scoring in what is widely regarded as the Southern Hemisphere’s best weight-for-age race, Anamoe reached seven Group 1 wins, breaking his tie with Daylami and Fantastic Light for most among Godolphin horses.

Before Saturday’s race, Godolphin Australia managing director Vin Cox told the Melbourne Herald Sun that after a couple starts early next year in Sydney, Anamoe may pursue the Dubai Turf (G1) in March at Meydan.