Anamoe still a chance of Royal Ascot last stand

Godolphin trainer James Cummings will keep Anamoe in work despite his Queen Elizabeth Stakes defeat with one eye on Royal Ascot, where he could be joined by promising three-year-old Aft Cabin.

The nine-time group 1 winner came through his third behind Dubai Honour, where he was beaten on his merits, in good order, and it will not stop an English preparation.

Dubai Honour beats Anamoe (blue silks) home in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on day two of The Championships.Credit: Getty

“We will talk about it in coming weeks, but he was good [on Sunday morning] after running into a very good horse,” Cummings said. “I see the trip to England as another preparation and we wouldn’t put him on the plane if he wasn’t in perfect order. It would nice to see him again at the races.

“The main goal was always Royal Ascot, but there is the Lockinge Stakes [at Newbury on May 20] in about six weeks if we want to have a prep run.

“If we go there with Anamoe it will all be about Royal Ascot and the mile race, the Queen Anne.”

There will probably not be another showdown in England with Dubai Honour, who will return home via Hong Kong and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup.

Godolphin head trainer James Cummings.Credit: Getty

“We’re very keen to go to Hong Kong now on the way home and run him in the QEII. Then we’ll take him back to England and regroup,” his trainer William Haggas said.

Cummings is also toying with the idea of taking Saturday’s Arrowfield Sprint winner Aft Cabin to Royal Ascot for the Platinum Jubilee Stakes. However, he still needs to be inoculated to make the trip.

There are no three-year-old group 1 races left for him in Australia this season, so if he continues for another run at the top level it would mean heading to Brisbane or Adelaide to take on older horses.

“He was so impressive winning the Royal Sovereign Stakes and his style of racing would really be suited down the straight,” Cummings said. “There are plenty of options for him, and it would be good to give him a shot at [a] group 1 as a three-year-old.

Aft Cabin comes down the outside to win Saturday’s Arrowfield Sprint, which opened the option of a trip to Royal Ascot. Credit: Getty

“I think he is a strong sprinter that will get seven [furlongs 1400m] and the straight at Ascot up the hill would suit him.

“We have our team pretty much well locked in for Brisbane and the Doomben 10,000, so we will have to sit down and have a good talk about Aft Cabin because I still think he has more to offer this preparation.

“We would make a decision in the next couple of weeks if we are going to England because he needs to have two injections to be inoculated.”

Meanwhile, Godolphin will look to end the Sydney carnival on high with Cascadian in Saturday’s All Aged Stakes, while Fernhill Handicap winner Tom Kitten and Amur will run in the Champagne Stakes.

“Tom Kitten was really good [on Sunday] morning and at the moment I would say him and Amur will be there in the Champagne,” Cummings said.

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