Godolphin colt Anamoe has provided Hall Of Fame jockey Damien Oliver a second Caulfield Guineas victory, 31 years after he registered his first as an apprentice.
Anamoe and Oliver overcame a wide barrier to win Saturday’s Group 1 contest for three-year-olds over 1600m in comfortable fashion.
Oliver’s only previous victory in the Guineas was back in 1990 aboard the Lee Freedman-trained Centro.
Sent out the $2.10 favourite, Anamoe registered a half-length win from Captivant ($26) with Artorius ($3.60) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
Anamoe was successful in Group 1 company as a two-year-old for trainer James Cummings and Oliver has now won at the highest level for three generations of the Cummings family.
“I rode my first Group 1 for his (James) grandfather Bart here on Submariner in the Sir Rupert Clarke and I’ve ridden Group 1’s for his father Anthony and now James as well,” Oliver said.
“It’s good to do it for three generations.
“It’s a great thrill to win a big race for Godolphin.
“They’ve been great supporters over the last 12 months and there’s a great team behind them with Reg (Fleming) and Sean (Keogh) down here in Melbourne and James has certainly given us a lot of support down here as well.”
There was much debate since the final field and barriers were drawn on Tuesday as to how Oliver would overcome the wide draw.
Discussions between Godolphin hierarchy, Cummings and Oliver ensured, and Oliver said the race panned out the way he had hoped.
“I was hoping to find the back of Captivant,” Oliver said.
“He’s a good horse and he could take me into the race three-wide with cover. It doesn’t always work out the way you want it, but it did today.
“He’s a nice momentum building horse and he was able to unleash a good finish down the outside.”
Oliver said the 2040m of the Cox Plate at The Valley on October 23 may not be beyond Anamoe if that was the direction Godolphin wanted to head.
However, with 49.5kg it is well outside Oliver’s weight range and the jockey has been booked to ride Gold Trip for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
“I wouldn’t put it beyond him. He’s a big strong colt. He relaxes well,” Oliver said.
“I’m sure the team will have a discussion about that. He’s certainly got the right temperament for it and he’s a lovely horse.”
