James Cummings has Anamoe up and running for an early season return with the first group 1 race of the Sydney season his likely starting point.
A brilliant winner of the Rosehill Guineas in the autumn, Anamoe was spelled after he missed a place for only the second time in his career when down the track in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April.
He already has one barrier trial under his belt, finishing third over 740m on the Warwick Farm Polytrack earlier this month, and Cummings has him on target to kick off in the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 20.
“I’m very happy with him. He will resume next month, we will probably see him in the Winx Stakes first-up,” Cummings said.
“He’s had a good break and he is eager to get going.”
A multiple Group 1 winner, Anamoe and Godolphin have unfinished business after the colt’s luckless second to State Of Rest in last year’s Cox Plate when jockey Craig Williams fired in a protest against the winner which was controversially dismissed.
The weight-for-age championship again looms large on the horse’s radar, although Cummings is keeping an open mind on his campaign targets.
“There are a lot of options so we can cherry pick them as we get our way through the preparation, but he will be ready to go in August,” he said.
The new racing season kicks off this week with the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) program at Randwick on Saturday.
The sprint is expected to attract a handy field including the Michael Freedman-trained triple Group 1 winner Forbidden Love, while Kris Lees will nominate several runners including Gem Song and Wandabaa.
