The punters are in for a massive Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) next month with the Godolphin champion Anamoe putting his hand up to win after fighting hard to overcome a wide run and salute by a narrow margin in the 2023 George Ryder Stakes results at Rosehill.

2023 George Ryder Stakes winner Anamoe found a way to salute for the punters off a wide run throughout. Photo: Steve Hart.

One race earlier on Golden Slipper Day the William Haggas-trained UK raider Dubai Honour absolutely romped home in the Group 1 $1 million Ranvet Stakes (2000m) to firm in 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting.

It was Anamoe’s turn in the Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and boy did he live up to hype.

Jockey James McDonald found himself trapped three-wide the entire trip with the odds-on favourite never seeing the fence as Electric Girl led the George Ryder field around.

Onto the home straight Electric Girl held a tight lead before being tackled by Converge at the big odds who raced ahead at the 300m.

Anamoe meanwhile was forced out four and five wide on the home turn and the champ was made to work for his ninth Group 1 victory.

Trying to lift at the 100m Anamoe ($1.80F) laid it down out wide as the crowd cheered him home.

The big ‘A’ got his nose in front and charged through the line to prove his class once again and hold off the fast-finishing Chris Waller-trained Fangirl ($9) who was typically fantastic in another Group 1 placing for the mare.

“He gets a real cult following because he’s a big sexy thing and he knows it too,” McDonald told the media after jumping off the George Ryder Stakes winner.

“We cherish every ride we get on him from now on because I think counting down, there’s only a couple left.

“I love the reception he gets because he deserves it.”

Converge ($41) at any old price for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott was good in third to round out the George Ryder Stakes trifecta, while Artorius lost few admirers savaging the line to run fourth in the heat.

All eyes are now turning to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes match-up at Royal Randwick on April 8 with a mouth-watering match-up between Dubai Honour and Anamoe to headline Day 2 of ‘The Championships’.

“It was looking like he was going to force us to be wide throughout, but at least he was going to be wide and out of trouble and James (McDonald) was ultimately very calm about that, which is the way he needed to be,” winning trainer Cummings told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the race. 

“But on a hot day like today, to get through this and to go undefeated this preparation in the lead up to the Queen Elizabeth is ideal.

“He’s had that tough run now at the 1500m, which is a race we deliberately kept him a little bit sharper for.

“But now he can step up to a mile and a quarter and look great in three weeks when we step him up in distance.

“It could be an entirely different scenario in three weeks’ time too, it could be an entirely different sort of day.

“Maybe very different track conditions. But this horse Anamoe, he’s never disappointed me once when we step him up in distance. He’s always run a blinder and I’d expect a similar thing from him in three weeks. But that’s (today’s race) a time honoured race packed full of quality opposition and for him to sit three and four wide throughout and still come away and be strongest on the line is a great credit to Anamoe.

“It’s another fantastic mile Group 1 that is added to his glittering resume already. He’s a beautiful stallion this horse.”

Updated all-in 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has Anamoe firming back into clear $2.50 favouritism ahead of Dubai Honour at $3 and are available in full by clicking here.

2023 George Ryder Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.