Australia: Anamoe can equal Winx's record in Queen Elizabeth but may not be favored

With six Group 1 wins since August, Anamoe is certain to be named Australian Horse of the Year for the current 2022-23 season.

Anamoe has a chance to equal Winx’s record of seven Group 1 wins in a year in the $3.36 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Friday evening. Winx reached the milestone in the 2018-19 season.

For the first time in the current season, Anamoe may not be favored. As of Wednesday morning, Anamoe was 8-5 in early betting with Australian bookmakers, with Dubai Honour the 3-2 favorite in a field of 13. The other runners were 9-1 or higher.

Anamoe, a 4-year-old colt by Street Boss, is unbeaten in three starts this year, all Group 1 races at seven furlongs to a mile. In his final two starts of 2022, Anamoe won the Group 1 Cox Plate at about 1 1/4 miles at Moonee Valley in October, Australia’s leading weight-for-age race, and was fourth in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington in early November.

Trained by James Cummings for Godolphin Racing, Anamoe will be ridden by James McDonald and is a threat from off the pace.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is expected to be Anamoe’s final start in Australia before he is sent to Great Britain. A start at Royal Ascot in June is a goal.

Dubai Honour, a 5-year-old Irish-bred gelding, won his Australian debut by nearly 4 1/2 lengths in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Rosehill Gardens on March 18 in his first start since October.

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Dubai Honour, trained by William Haggas of Britain, closed from third under jockey Tom Marquand to take the lead in the final furlong. Marquand and Haggas won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2020 and 2021 with the British shipper Addeybb.

The style of the two runners should make for a fascinating duel in the last half of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with Dubai Honor likely to make a first move.

Randwick has a stellar 10-race program beginning at 9:40 p.m. Eastern, or 6:40 p.m. Pacific, that includes three other Group 1 races. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Cleveland, winner of the Chester Cup at 2 5/16 miles in Britain last May, will be favored to win the $1.34 million Sydney Cup at two miles against 19 rivals, including Gold Trip, winner of the Grade 1 Melbourne Cup last November.

Cleveland, trained in Ireland by Joseph O’Brien, was a fast-closing fifth in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes at 1 1/2 miles in his Australian debut on March 25. Gold Trip is winless in three starts since the Melbourne Cup, including a seventh in the Tancred.

Pavitra and Fireburn, second and third in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles at Rosehill Gardens on March 25, are the leading contenders in the $672,700 Australian Oaks at 1 1/2 miles.

Alcohol Free, a four-time Group 1 winner in Britain in 2021 and 2022, will be favored to win her Australian debut in the $672,700 Queen of the Turf Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile.

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