ANAMOE IS RARING TO GO
Star four-year-old horse ANAMOE is all set to claim the $5m Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick racecourse this Saturday.
After scoring three from three this preparation, the James Cummings-trained ANAMOE is aiming for an astonishing seventh Group 1 win for 2022-23 and he will equal the record for most majors in a single season set by wonder mare WINX in 2018-19 if he wins the feature on Saturday.
Though ANAMOE stands out as the horse to beat this weekend, his main danger DUBAI HONOUR, who could not have been more impressive taking out the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes by well over four lengths at his Australian debut on March 18, is racing in career best form and looks capable of causing an upset.
THE DERBY IS AWESOME
Sydney-based trainer John O’Shea will be confident that promising three-year-old AWESOME JOHN can claim the $400,000 Group 2 W.A.T.C. Derby at Ascot racecourse this Saturday.
A two-time winner at Kembla Grange and Hawkesbury, AWESOME JOHN is having his fourth run this campaign in the Derby and he was far from disgraced with a close third in the G2 Tulloch Stakes over 2000m at Rosehill last start. The form has since held up well with the second place getter MAJOR BEEL scoring a subsequent win in the G1 ATC Australian Derby.
AWESOME JOHN stands out as the form choice in this week’s small field of eight while possessing versatility in running holds him in good stead to score with the tempo expected to be moderate.
GIGI TO ROCK NEWCASTLE
Talented three-year-old filly OUR GIGI ROCK is primed to go back-to-back this Saturday when she lines up in the $45,000 Class 1 race over 1200m at Newcastle racecourse, Australia.
OUR GIGI ROCK had trialled well prior to her debut three weeks ago, so it was not surprise to see her meet heavy market support. Despite drawn wide that day, the daughter of Better Than Ready simply toyed with her rivals when displaying tactical speed to cut across early, before drawing away in the straight to score by three lengths over this distance.
This week, OUR GIGI ROCK is well placed in a field without much depth and from an ideal draw, she should endure a perfect trip and can prove hard to run down for jockey Jeff Penza.
