Australia: Anamoe shortens up in 2022 debut

Anamoe is a stakes winner at distances ranging from five furlongs to a mile and nearly won the Group 1 Cox Plate at 1 1/4 miles in Australia in October.

Distances are not a major issue for the 3-year-old Australian-bred colt who has his 2022 debut in Saturday’s Group 2 Expressway Stakes at six furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney. The distance is shorter than his recent starts, but the versatility Anamoe has shown in his 11-race career is expected to lead to his sixth win.

Thursday, Anamoe was the 4-5 favorite in early betting to win the $140,700 Expressway Stakes, which drew a field of eight.

Trained by James Cummings for Godolphin Racing, Anamoe was beaten a nose by the Irish shipper State of Rest in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse on Oct. 23, Australia’s leading weight-for-age race. Prior to that, Anamoe was second by a head in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Sept. 25 and won the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas at a mile at Caulfield Racecourse on Oct. 9.

The busy month led to a rest for Anamoe, who is by Street Boss. The Expressway Stakes against older horses is considered a prep for more prestigious races for 3-year-olds in Australia in coming months.

This will be Anamoe’s first start at six furlongs since a win in the Group 2 Run to the Rose Stakes for 3-year-olds at Kembla Grange in September, his first start in five months. James McDonald rides Anamoe, who races as a closer.

Standout, a 5-year-old horse, and Forbidden Love, a 4-year-old filly, are part of the Expressway field.

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Standout won the 2020 Expressway, but is winless in 12 subsequent starts. This is his first start since he finished 11th in the $733,500 The Hunter Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Newcastle on Nov. 13, finishing 5 1/2 lengths behind 3-2 favorite Lost and Running.

Forbidden Love won the Group 1 Surround Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick last February, but is winless in her last seven starts. Forbidden Love had a busy campaign in late October, finishing third in the $1.49 million Invitation for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Randwick and 10th in the $5.64 million Golden Eagle Stakes for 4-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on consecutive Saturdays.

The Expressway Stakes is the seventh race on a 10-race program that begins at 8:25 p.m. Eastern or 5:25 p.m. Pacific on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Saturday’s leading race at Moonee Valley in Melbourne is the Group 2 Australia Stakes at six furlongs.

The field is led by the undefeated 5-year-old mare Marabi. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Marabi will have her group stakes debut in the $246,365 Australia Stakes against 11 rivals.

Marabi won her stakes debut in the Christmas Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse on Dec. 26. As of Thursday, Marabi was 4-5 in early betting compared to Lightsaber and Sinawann at 7-1.

Marabi is quick enough to lead, but is also as effective as a stalker which will give jockey Ben Allen options in the opening quarter-mile.