Four of the five Group One-winning juveniles from last season will go head-to-head in The Run To The Rose in what is surely the strongest renewal in the race’s history.
Along with Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside, Anamoe (ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes), Captivant (Champagne Stakes) and Converge (J J Atkins) will all clash in the crucial Golden Rose preview.
The only absentee from the Group 1 two-year-old class of 2021 is Blue Diamond Stakes winner Artorius.
James Cummings, trainer of Anamoe, admits there will be nowhere to hide at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
“He’s got it all to do. Look at the quality of the horse that is here,” Cummings said.
“There are most of the two-year-old Group One winners.”
Anamoe suffered a setback last month when he spiked a temperature, forcing Cummings to ease off him and the horse to miss a couple of important gallops.
The Godolphin team have managed to get the colt to his scheduled return in Saturday’s 1200m feature, but Cummings says they will be adopting a race-by-race approach to his spring campaign.
“We are really pleased to have him back on track, despite having a setback so close to his resumption,” Cummings said.
“The plan will be laid down as we go.”
Despite the training setback, Anamoe is a clear-cut $2.40 favourite to continue Godolphin’s strong recent record in The Run To The Rose.
Sheikh Mohammed’s team have won three of the past six runnings and their trio of winners – Bivouac (2019), Astern (2016 and Exosphere (2015) – all went on to capture the Golden Rose.
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au