One of Australia’s genuine turf stars gets his latest campaign underway at Randwick on the weekend with Godolphin’s resuming Cox Plate hero Anamoe odds-on to win the 2023 Apollo Stakes in Sydney.
Star Cox Plate hero Anamoe returns to racing in Sydney’s 2023 Apollo Stakes this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The lead-up to the Autumn Racing Carnival heats up on Saturday with the Group 2 $250,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m) where the field is down to 11 following the early scratching of the Chris Waller-trained Durston (1).
Sitting top of the Apollo Stakes odds online at $1.70 through Ladbrokes.com.au is the gun James Cummings-trained Street Boss four-year-old Anamoe.
During a stellar spring the valuable stallion won four Group 1 races on the trot including the Ladbrokes Cox Plate at The Valley.
His winning streak came to an end when two lengths back fourth at Flemington on November 5 behind Zaaki in the Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes (2000m), but he looks set for atonement in easier company fresh in the Apollo.
Anamoe has plenty of first-up form (5:2-1-1), and the $10 million earner boasts an imposing Randwick track record (6:4-1-0).
The 1400m is ideal for him here, and he presents well on the back of two lead-up Sydney trials.
James McDonald continues associations donning the famous Royal Blue silks.
Despite representing no value in betting, Anamoe is the deserving and hard to beat favourite.
The danger occupying the second line of Apollo Stakes betting this season at $7 is the Waller-trained Group 1 winning mare Fangirl in gate five with Kerrin McEvoy aboard.
She too kicks off her autumn campaign having last been seen running second to I Wish I Win in the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill in late December.
Fangirl met Anamoe twice in Sydney Group 1s last prep when 1.66 lengths second fresh in the Winx Stakes at this track and distance before her fifth in the George Main over a mile.
Waller has dominated the recent Apollo Stakes results preparing five winners since 2009 including three-time hero Winx (2016, 2017 and 2019).
He is back this year with not only Fangirl still in the mix but also fellow Group 1 winning mare Hinged ($15), his Cox Plate third placed import El Bodegon ($8.50) racing in Australia for the second time and Surefire ($34) all with claims for an upset.
The other most likely out to stop Anamoe from returning a winner is the Annabel Neasham-trained Mo’unga ($10) last seen finishing second in the Champions Stakes.
The 2023 Apollo Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 8 at 4:40pm (AEDT) with full markets thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au available here.
2023 Apollo Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 219x11114x | ANAMOE | James Cummings | James McDonald | 8 | 59kg | 120 | ||
| 2 | 26x032852x | MO’UNGA (NZ) | Annabel Neasham | Nash Rawiller | 11 | 59kg | 112 | ||
| 3 | 409x42833x | LAWS OF INDICES (IRE) | Annabel Neasham | Tom Marquand | 10 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 4 | x1x701161x | DURSTON (GB) | Chris Waller | Regan Bayliss | 1 | 59kg | 109 | ||
| 5 | 7x9644188x | STOCKMAN (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Sam Clipperton | 9 | 59kg | 107 | ||
| 6 | 2412x00x76 | VEGA ONE | Tony Gollan | Ryan Maloney | 12 | 59kg | 107 | ||
| 7 | 217123820x | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 2 | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 8 | 20x155021x | SUREFIRE (GB) | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 4 | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 9 | 11x7233x3x | EL BODEGON (IRE) | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 5 | 58.5kg | 114 | ||
| 10 | 33x722491x | ICEBATH (NZ) | Brad Widdup | Brett Prebble | 3 | 57kg | 110 | ||
| 11 | 5410x2562x | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 57kg | 109 | ||
| 12 | 324x53358x | HINGED | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 7 | 57kg | 107 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
