Caulfield Guineas favourite looking to overcome bad draw

Trainer James Cummings says there is no rush to settle on a race plan for favourite Anamoe in the Caulfield Guineas.

The Godolphin three-year-old is the $2.70 favourite for Saturday’s stallion making contest over 1600m, but he has to overcome barrier 15 (already 14 after the scratching of Coastwatch) under Damien Oliver.

With the Guineas not until race eight on Saturday’s 10-race program, Cummings said there was plenty of time to formulate plans for the race.

Cummings said he had already spoken to Oliver, will speak to Vin Cox, Godolphin Australia Managing Director, on Friday and again to Oliver on Saturday.

And depending on how earlier races are being run on Saturday, he may relay a message to Oliver with an up-to-date to tactics.

“There doesn’t look to be much pace in the race, so it would therefore be nice to be a lot closer in the run,” Cummings said.

“We have a lot of time between now and race eight at Caulfield (on Saturday) to work out precisely the best winning position for Anamoe.

“He is the best we have had him all preparation. He has been set for the race and we suspect he’s ready to run a peak performance this time in.”

A son of Street Boss, Anamoe has raced on nine occasions registering four wins and four placings and he remains among recent acceptances for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 23.

Cummings wants to see Anamoe get through Saturday’s race first, but knows one thing the colt is looking for a 1600m despite having been placed in two big Group 1 races for two-year-olds over 1200m, the Blue Diamond Stakes and Golden Slipper last season.

“It’s nice to get him up to the mile, but let’s face it, it’s still a sprinters’ mile,” Cummings said.

“There are at least three Group 1 winners in there and a bunch of horses that have Group 1 potential written all over them and it takes a very good horse to come out on top in this race.”

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