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“He’s a star. He’s so adaptable now. He’s a pleasure to ride, and as soon as you hop on, he oozes confidence.

Those were the words used by James McDonald to explain the now five-time Group 1 winner Anamoe after his win in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m).

The Godolphin galloper who started a well fancied $1.65 favourite progressed off his first-up figure, and Punter’s Intelligence sectional data recorded his sectional brilliance.

The WFA event was run at a farcical tempo, with Hinged running the first 1000m in 1:02.97. To put that into perspective, the Midway Handicap went out approximately 7.5 lengths faster, and the BM 88 (1600m) was almost 11 lengths quicker.

However, all the merit was in the final section, and Anamoe showed his versatility to sit outside the leader and put the race away with ease.

In addition, he clocked the second-fastest final 200m split of the race and held his opposition on the line. Expect him to improve again over a further distance.

Icebath was again outstanding in defeat after having to make a long-wide sustained run and ran the race quickest 600m/400m/200m sectionals in 35.19/23.58/12.14.

Further, she is on track for her target races: the Group 1 Epsom (1600m) and The Invitation (1400m).

Duais is ticking over soundly running the race quickest 800m-400m split in 23.78 and Montefilia returned well and ran 23.86 for her final 400m.

Champion sprinter Nature Strip produced one of his peak first-up figures when winning the Group 2 Shorts (1100m).

The gelding had every chance in the run but once presented, he accelerated and sprinted one of the meeting’s fastest 400m-200m splits in 11.15.

He is on track to defend his $15M TAB Everest (1200m) crown and looks extremely hard to beat.

Lost And Running had no luck after racing four-wide without cover throughout.

However, to his credit, he still ran on well and clocked the race’s third quickest final 200m in 11.88.

The John O’Shea trained galloper will be more suited second-up in the Premiere Stakes (1200m).

Mazu was also solid first-up and Masked Crusader had the pace/bias against him and ran the races fastest final 600m in 34.24.

The surprise run of the race was Anethole, who ran above market expectations. Additionally, he ran the quickest final 200m split of the meeting in 11.70 and is suited back in grade.

Zougotcha was headed after hitting the front in the Group 2 Tea Rose (1400m) but showed great fight and tenacity to surge again late and win.

She ran the race’s fastest final 200m sectional in 12.70 and did it in style with a trying action.

Madame Pommery sprinted hard and ran the race quickest 400m-200m split in 11.62, which was approximately 1-1.5 lengths superior to the next best.

The three-year-old peaked on her run and will be fitter for that effort and suited to a drier surface.

Wolverine was 28 days between runs, and his sectional profile suggests she is ready to peak third-up. Further, she ran the race’s second fastest final 600m in 36.59.

Although well beaten Renaissance Woman was honest racing in the inferior ground, clocked 23.98 between 600m-200m and maintained a solid finishing speed.

It’s worth noting other key sectional performers on the day and none other than Stray, who had too much to do in the BM 78 (1400m).

The four-year-old got too far back in a very slow tempo and was still approximately 18 meters off the lead at the 400m mark.

The Anthony Cummings trained galloper showed an electric turn of foot and ran one of the quickest 400m-200m splits of the meeting in 11.18 before peaking on her run over the concluding stages.

Watch for her over a longer distance and as she progresses through her prep.

Top Ranked set a strong platform for his preparation after winning the high-pressure Group 3 Bill Ritchie (1400m).

The seven-year-old was run to suit, but he had to carry 59.5kg and picked up his rivals after running a solid 600m-200m split in 23.34.

Custo’s run had hidden merit in the TAB Highway (1000m) after racing wide at a fast pace, and being left in front a long way from home.

He will be a significant player back on the provincial/country circuit.

Fastest last 600m: Salire 34.03

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