McDonald to be aggressive early on Anamoe in Cox Plate
James McDonald wants to fire up his Ferrari right from the word go.
That was his succinct but exciting message to punters thinking of backing James Cummings’ superstar Anamoe for the $5 million Cox Plate at The Valley on Saturday.
The four-year-old dropped down to $2.35 in favouritism with online bookmakers on Friday afternoon – and rightfully so.
His past three starts have seen him salute with authority in the Might And Power, George Main and Winx Stakes.
The champion jockey certainly won’t be dawdling aboard his $6.4 million stallion coming out from barrier four.
He wants to use his early speed to get him in a good position to strike late in the 2040 middle-distance feature, just as this combination did to perfection in Anamoe’s past three starts.
“I’ll be very aggressive. He is a huge chance in the race, so I will definitely be in the first four and we will go from there and see how good he is,” McDonald said.
“He is really happy with himself. Bubbling along well, so we will see what happens.”
McDonald, still only 30, has 71 Group 1 wins to his name.
His resume includes Melbourne Cup, Everest, Golden Slipper and King’s Stakes triumphs.
But a Cox Plate has eluded him.
The closest he has come was a second on Hartnell when beaten by eight lengths by the great Winx in 2016.
“It’s always been an ambition of ours (to win the Cox Plate),” McDonald said.
“It would be special to do it on a horse like Anamoe. We’ve had a long association with him.”
Cummings said McDonald’s comments reflected his clarity on how he wanted to ride Anamoe in the tactical discussions they have had about Saturday.
“With good conversations with James McDonald, he seems to be well and truly on our wavelength and got a good grip on how Anamoe is going,” the Godolphin trainer said.
“He’s got full confidence in his horse.
“The horse is going to need to turn up … we’ve had a really uncomplicated time in the lead-up and for that we’re very grateful, and we’re also very grateful we have a horse as good as Anamoe to put us in this position.
“It’s not a gimme. They don’t give them away and he’s going to have to really turn up and perform to his best.”
Anamoe has impressed fourth-up in the past, including the Golden Slipper (second), Cox Plate (second) and victory in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas by seven lengths.
“Fourth up from a spell is his hitting zone and he’s in the zone this week,” Cummings said.
Talk centred on Anamoe has not just focused on his exceptional racing ability this week.
If he wins on Saturday, he could cement himself as the greatest horse in Australia.
That will mean he will also become one of the most valuable stallions in the country.
In fact, Godolphin made the difficult decision to continue racing him last October after Group 1-winning campaigns at two and three.
So far, it seems a sound decision because victory on Saturday will increase his career earnings to $9.4 million.
Combine that with a possible 10-year stud career at Godolphin’s breeding operation, Darley, and his value post-racing could be at least $70 million.
The managing director of Australia’s arm of Godolphin, Vin Cox, also told Nine Entertainment on Friday that a Cox Plate victory would provide an ideal foundation for a select but lucrative overseas campaign.
It is all exciting news for Cummings.
But despite Anamoe’s brilliant form and heavy favouritism, like McDonald he knows just how difficult Saturday’s assignment will be.
“He’s going to be an extremely valuable horse for us when he retires … but if he can win the Cox Plate, it just takes that to the next level,” Cummings said.
“This is such a serious race and it’s a really important race for him.
“He’s the headline horse in the headline race and that’s what makes it so hard to win.”