Anamoe will be out to buck the great uncertainty of racing (those factors that come into play that bring good things undone and have been running rampant of late) in Saturday’s Chipping Norton Stakes at Royal Randwick which, like the Futurity at Sandown, is a far cry from ancestral territory.
The Chipping Norton made its name at Warwick Farm, which was sacked as a major venue in 2007. Another group one on the Sandown program, the Oakleigh Plate, dates back to 1884 and has rarely been run away from Caulfield but is this time because that venue is undergoing much-needed renovations.
The great uncertainty of racing looks the only danger to Anamoe and James McDonald in the Chipping Norton Stakes. Credit:Getty
Races like the Chipping Norton, Liverpool Cup, and the Guy Walter Stakes just don’t sit right at Randwick. The late Guy Walter, a great trainer, pleaded for the Western Suburbs circuit once more bush than city to retain its majors: “As we all know, the betting on the Chipping Norton meeting at Warwick Farm exceeded on the Randwick Guineas meeting. That’s comparing apples with apples.”
Hopefully, both tracks will provide bias free surfaces because the action promises to be outstanding. Anamoe is the headliner, but the Futurity, another weight-for-age sprint headed by I’m Thunderstruck and Alligator Blood, has more depth.
Alas, last Saturday at Rosehill Gardens three hot favourites at around Anamoe odds went down: Cross Talk ($1.85) after the demise of Mariamia ($1.65) and Aft Cabin ($1.60). King’s Gambit ($1.28) and Don Corleone ($1.60) were beaten in recent weeks.
Certainly my old bleat – problems at the start – played a role. For instance, Aft Cabin, a stablemate of Anamoe, slipped behind as the gates opened when he was overwhelmed by Osipenko. At their previous clash, Osipenko flopped out of the barrier while Aft Cabin jumped clean and scored.
Anamoe can be sluggish into stride, but James McDonald had him mobile quick to take the Apollo Stakes at Randwick a fortnight ago when he defied the trend to win in the red.
Mo’unga, a rival again here, was “crowded” early against him and was forced three wide throughout without cover and beaten only 1.7 lengths. Reverse the circumstances? Fangirl, which is rated the major danger to Anamoe today, came out last and ended a length behind him in the Apollo. Generally, the James Cummings-trained Anamoe doesn’t donkey-lick but wins. Heavy red odds the query?
In Secret, which is also trained by Cummings and favourite at a black price on Friday for the Light Fingers, overcame a slow launch to triumph when resuming on February 11, although given a smooth passage. She meets a similar field. Hiccups early look the main danger.