Anamoe delivered an ominous warning to his spring rivals Aug. 20 when he announced his return to the track in style, producing a performance full of class to win the first elite-level contest of the new season, the AU$750,000 Winx Stakes (G1) at Randwick Racecourse.
In winning Saturday's contest, the James Cummings-trained 4-year-old became the first Australian horse since Show A Heart in 2001 to win group 1 races at 2, 3, and 4 years of age.
Anamoe landed the first prize in both the Neds Caulfield Guineas (G1) and Sky Racing Active Rosehill Guineas (G1) last season, classic wins which added to his Inglis Sires' Stakes (G1) success as a juvenile: a year in which he was also runner-up in the Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (G1).
Ridden by James McDonald, Godolphin's homebred son of Darley shuttler Street Boss broke well from the inside barrier before being settled in fourth on the rails behind the early pace set by Hilal and Forbidden Love.
Approaching the final 300 meters of the 1400-meter feature, McDonald was forced to take the inside passage as the leaders moved away from the rails on the soft 5 surface and Anamoe quickened well to run out a decisive 1 3/4-length victory over Vinery Stud Stakes (G1) heroine Fangirl.
Spring Champion Stakes (G1) scorer Profondo finished a further nose back in a hotly-contested renewal which featured six previous group 1 winners.
"He's a proper horse, isn't he?" Cummings said post-race. "It is a great result for the team, and I'm a bit surprised that I'm upset (emotional) about it, but it just means a lot to us. It's a pleasure to have a horse as good as this back at four. We've got a great team around us.
"We say it all the time, it should go without saying, but you can see the effort that's gone into this horse, getting to this level and having him back every prep is amazing.
"You can't help but feel like he's well and truly stamped himself as the horse to beat in anything he runs in this preparation.
"Without an international horse, this horse might have won a Cox Plate. He won the Caulfield Guineas and if he draws a gate in a Golden Slipper, he's won a Slipper.
"Name me a colt who is not far off going to stud who has done that. He is a pretty special horse to have in work."
Cummings is in no rush to decide where Anamoe will head next, but the obvious main target remains a crack at going one better in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) after last year's desperate second behind subsequent group 1-scorer State of Rest.
"We've got plenty of time to see how he pulls up. We're spoilt for choice; there is so much on the table for a horse like him," Cummings said. "He's a wonderful horse to have in training for his Highness Sheikh Mohammed in Australia, and a great advertisement of what we can do with the farm and the stables we've got."
A half-brother to British listed stakes-winner Anamba, Ananmoe is the best of four winners from six to race out of the Australasian Oaks (G1)-winning Redoute's Choice mare Anamato.
A half sister to group 1 winner Drum, Anamato has a pedigree that features group 1 winners Grand Armee, Yourdeel, and Dealer Principal.
She has a yearling filly foal by Blue Point, but missed returning to Street Boss last spring.
