Anamoe’s powerful warning to rivals ahead of Cox Plate

“I spoke to James (McDonald) about the race in detail and he was on my wavelength with the way the race should be run. I just begged him, ‘don’t come wide at the 600 – don’t fall for it, wait on the horse’.”

Cummings said with 400m to go McDonald would have been justified if he was worried at that stage all of his main dangers Zaaki, I’m Thunderstruck and Alligator Blood all looked to be travelling well.

“He was able to gather himself together and run a really impressive last furlong in a weight-for-age ten furlong race to demonstrate his class,” Cummings said.

It was Anamoe’s 10th win from 19 starts, his sixth at group 1 level and his third win from three starts this campaign.

Mick Price, co-trainer of the runner-up I’m Thunderstruck was thrilled with his galloper’s performance.

“I thought for once this time in, he was in a beautiful spot as Mark (Zahra) had taken his opportunity to find a good spot and be closer to Alligator Blood and then he took his opportunity to get off the fence,” Price said.

“It was a great test at weight-for-age and it proved that it’s in his DNA. I was happy to see him come on. We had every chance. Anamoe’s not a Caulfield horse but he’s the best weight-for-age horse in the land so to be beaten by him narrowly was a great effort.”

Annabel Neasham and Jamie Kah were both happy with the improved run of Zaaki to run third.

Neasham said Zaaki still had improvement to come and Kah said he was back to his best

Tim Clark, who rode Alligator Blood who tired to finish fourth said he ran well.