Berry confident Anamoe can buck the trend
STAR jockey Tommy Berry doesn’t need reminding Anamoe will attempt to be the first three-year-old this century to win the Group 1 $4m Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
“Anamoe has to do something that has been too hard for three-year-olds for many years and that is beat the older horses in the Queen Elizabeth,’’ Berry said. “It’s a tough year to try because they are not just decent older horses he is up against, they are superstars, but so is my colt. He’s an outstanding young horse.’’
Sydney’s premier autumn carnival weight-for-age race has attracted a field that reads like the who’s who of Australian racing.
It includes Horse of the Year Verry Elleegant, winner of the Melbourne Cup last spring and Chipping Norton Stakes earlier this autumn, and her last-start Ranvet Stakes conqueror Montefilia.
Throw into the mix All-Star Mile winner Zaaki, outstanding mare Duais, who goes into the Queen Elizabeth off dynamic Australian Cup and Tancred Stakes wins, and proven topliners Think It Over and I’m Thunderstruck, winner of the Golden Eagle.
But in a measure of the regard Anamoe is held in, the crack Godolphin colt is $4.80 second favourite behind Verry Elleegant at $3.
Some good three-year-old gallopers have tried and failed to win the Queen Elizabeth since Intergaze upset champion Octagonal in his farewell race in 1997. Berry is quietly confident in Anamoe.
“I am pretty excited to get back on Anamoe because I know the horse better now and have an understanding of what he is capable of,’’ Berry said.
“I believe he can win but it won’t be easy – this is some race. Verry Elleegant has been a marvellous mare for about four years now and James McDonald decided to stay with her, which tells you how well she is going.”