Anamoe claimed a pulsating Caulfield Guineas while boom seven-year-old Zaaki was beaten on a topsy-turvy Saturday in Melbourne which is set to have major ramifications on the Cox Plate.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Star Godolphin colt Anamoe ground down a brave Captivant to give jockey Damien Oliver his second Caulfield Guineas win, 31 years after he claimed the race aboard Centro. He's now rated a $7 chance in the Cox Plate.
Zaaki remains favourite ($2.80) in the Cox Plate but has drifted after he could only manage third in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) behind a brilliant Probabeel, and second-placed Nonconformist.
I'm Thunderstruck stamped himself a deserved Group 1 winner in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) in an action packed day at Caulfield, finishing just clear of Tofane.
But the day belonged to Anamoe who atoned somewhat for his narrow second placing in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) last month with a stallion making win.
"He's just such a magnificent specimen of a horse," Oliver told Racing.com.
"It probably panned out the way I hoped it was going to. I was hopeful if I could find the back of Captivant, he's a good horse, and he could take me into the race three wide with cover.
"It doesn't always work out the way you want it but it did today. He's a nice momentum building horse and he was able to unleash a good finish down the outside.
"I wouldn't put it [the Cox Plate] beyond him. He's a big strong colt and he relaxes well, I'm sure that the team will have a big discussion about that, he's certainly got the right temperament for it."
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
Meanwhile a star was born at Randwick as the $1.9m colt Profondo was far too good in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at just his third career start, under the urgings of a teary Robbie Dolan who celebrated his first Group 1 winner.
"Thanks to the owners for keeping me on the horse today," Dolan said.