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By Ray Hickson

Three-year-olds and Godolphin have separately had great recent success in the Group 2 $200,000 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill so it’ll be interesting to see if their star colt Anamoe can add his name to the honour roll on Saturday.

Anamoe not only looms large over the field from a profile point of view, he’s also easily the highest rated horse and under the weight-for-age scale will be on the minimum weight of 55kg.

When Godolphin pinpoint this race they often come away with a win and last year Group 1 winning mare Savatiano kicked off her autumn with an Expressway success while in 2019 another top mare Alizee sailed home in the Godolphin blue.

If you’re a talented three-year-old recent history also says you run well. In 2020 it was the flashy Standout denying Alizee back-to-back wins while in 2018 the classy Trapeze Artist scored easily first-up and later won both the TJ Smith and All Aged beating the older horses.

With a largely fine week predicted the Rosehill surface should be in perfect condition for what promises to be an intriguing contest.

Here’s an early look at the contenders for the 2022 edition:

Anamoe (James Cummings): This colt needs no introduction, a two time Group 1 winner who was a bit stiff not to end his spring with a Cox Plate win. He cruised around recently in a 900m barrier trial at Rosehill, working home from the back to run fourth, and James Cummings is following a similar pattern to the spring by trialling under two weeks from a resumption. Who can forget his booming first-up win over 1200m in the Run To The Rose at Kembla? He’s the class in the race and will be the horse they’re looking over their shoulders for.

Anamoe (Pic: Steve Hart)

Away Game (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace): Race fitness is something this talented mare has on her side with a Listed placing first-up before her third in the Magic Millions Sprint on the Gold Coast. She won the Widden Stakes at this meeting two years ago. At her last weight-for-age attempt she finished midfield behind Jonker in the Manikato Stakes over 1200m. Solid campaigner with a consistent 1200m record and she’ll run her usual honest race.

Belluci Babe (Bjorn Baker): A big test for a mare with a very good record who will be fitter for a first-up second at Rosehill behind Mr Mosaic. This is her first look at a weight-for-age race and only her second at stakes level having placed in the Group 3 Nivison for the mares back in the spring. Only missed a place twice in 14 starts so you know she’ll put in and it’s a matter of whether she can measure up.

Forbidden Love (Richard & Michael Freedman): It’s fair to say this Group 1 winning mare had a mixed spring campaign with a third in the inaugural $2m The Invitation her best effort in five starts. But there can quite often be a transition period from three to four years old and if her recent barrier trial is any guide she just might have needed that prep. She chased home Nature Strip over 900m and while he certainly wasn’t let go she pulled good ground off him late, suggesting she’s in excellent order.

Holyfield (Annabel Neasham): Back in business with a win at Randwick two starts back then a last stride defeat in the Magic Millions Cup where Eleven Eleven snatched the win from him. Weight-for-age will mean he’s not on great weight terms with a lot of his rivals and it’s some concern that his return to form has come at 1400m racing on the pace. On paper he faces a challenge but fitness is certainly not an issue.

Overpass (Bjorn Baker): Far from disgraced against the best sprinting three-year-olds in the spring without sneaking into a place at Group level. Beaten less than two lengths by Paulele in the Roman Consul (Standout came through that race to win the Expressway a couple of years ago) and midfield in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes to Home Affairs. He’s trialled twice, the latest of those on Monday, and it wouldn’t shock if he was to run a cheeky race fresh.

Snapdancer (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace): Chased home Carrington Stakes winner Special Reward in the Razor Sharp two runs back then bolted in at the Gold Coast to win the Fillies and Mares feature. She’s a dry tracker so does need those conditions to produce her best and it’ll basically come to down whether she can measure up at weight-for-age.

Standout

Standout (Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou): A dry track is also paramount for the 2020 winner of this race and it’s fair to say he’s been threatening to win again in the two years since his last victory. He’s been runner-up in the past two editions of the Sydney Stakes on TAB Everest Day and last prep he chased home Eduardo and Lost And Running in the Classique Legend Stakes. That’s pretty slick form for a race like this. He made a mid-straight dash in the Nature Strip trial and this will be a good chance for him.

Superium (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes): He was a shade unlucky and a bit frustrating in his late autumn/winter campaign until the breaks went his way in the Hinkler at Eagle Farm where he ran down Southern Lad and Away Game. Even effort first-up in the Magic Millions Sprint but at weight-for-age he’d need to have plenty of favours given he started last prep in a Benchmark 78.

Tiger Of Malay (Richard & Michael Freedman): Probably a couple of lengths off the top three-year-olds in the spring, this colt has been up and going early with a couple of trials ahead of his return. Beat Coastwatch at 1300m fresh last time in and was only beaten two lengths in the Golden Rose so he has his share of talent. Won two from three first-up so he’s capable of performing.

Wild Planet (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes): He’s always been a handy sprinter and almost stole a Group 1 from Eduardo in the Doomben 10,000 back in May last year when first-up from a break. Until then you’d question him at weight-for-age. Contested the Stradbroke before another break. No official trials but he was rearward throughout in a jump out at Flemington on January 14.

Wisdom Of Water (Annabel Neasham): It’s taken a while but this four-year-old has finally found his best posting back-to-back Magic Millions wins at Wyong and the Gold Coast, and in the latter he overcame a wide gate and was dominant at the finish. At weight-for-age he’s not as well placed given his rating and you can only expect him to hold his form, whether that’s good enough to win remains to be seen.

Early TAB betting (as at 4pm Monday):
$1.90 Anamoe
$5 Snapdancer
$8 Away Game, Forbidden Love, Tiger Of Malay
$13 Belluci Babe, Standout, Wisdom Of Water
$15 Holyfield, Overpass, Wild Planet
$26 Superium

All the nominations, form and replays for Rosehill on Saturday