Trial Report: Anamoe to the fore again with early types

Cover image courtesy of Darley

Anamoe colt Ankaa shows plenty

After his two runners at Sydney’s 2-year-old trials both won on Monday, Anamoe added another impressive juvenile at Thursday morning’s Flemington jump outs.

Ankaa sat nicely in third spot behind the Lindsay Park-trained unnamed filly by Tassort (ex Spurs And Sashes {Flying Spur}) taking up the leading position.

Jack Laing-trained Skyrouge (Lord Of The Sky) sat in second. In the closing stages, the Tassort filly faded a bit and Ankaa finished off strongly to win by a length.

“A lovely colt. A really nice colt that we purchased at Magics. We’re very keen on Anamoe as a stallion; everyone seems to be,” co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said.

“Ankaa is a horse that’s probably going to be at his best when he gets to three, but he's been very precocious in his work. We haven't put any pressure on him until this morning, but I thought he responded nicely. He’ll be the type of 2-year-old that’ll be ridden with cover and be strong at the end of the race. If he bounces through this morning, there's a chance he'll turn up in one of the early races.”

Sold by Newgate Farm at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale to Redwall Syndicate for $270,000, Ankaa went through Widden Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft where McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $300,000 for him.

A half-brother to G3 Gimcrack Stakes-placed Celestial Bling (Capitalist), Ankaa is out of Starry (Exceed And Excel). She is a winning half-sister to Group 2 winner and sire Zululand as well as stakes placed Moskow Night (Written Tycoon) and a full sister to stakes placed Chicago Bull (Exceed And Excel).

Silent Intent gives McEvoy’s a double

Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained filly Champagne Time (Time To Reign) was wayward out of the gates but quickly recovered to hold the lead alongside Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained colt Silent Intent (Hellbent). The pair showed the way with Silent Intent the strongest on the line to win nicely. Bella Divina (All Too Hard) for the Hayes brothers was third.

“Silent Intent is a lovely colt by Hellbent. He's always been very straightforward,” Calvin McEvoy said.

“All the three of our 2-year-olds that trialled this morning had an easy trial (at home) the other week and they came through that well. This morning we asked a little bit more of them and I thought Silent Intent was fantastic. He quickened under a little bit of riding. He floated around a little bit when he hit the straight, which is to be expected first time down there, but again, we're really pleased. The jockey was pleased, and if he bounces through it, there's a chance to take his spot.”

Silent Intent was sold by Three Bridges Farm to McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA) for $190,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He’s the first foal of Silent Monarch (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) who was unbeaten in two starts.

Snitzel filly takes out the third juvenile heat

In the juvenile fillies heat, Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s other juvenile, Maalefushi (Pierata) ran second behind John McArdle-trained Musandam (Snitzel) who came home strongly to win. In third was Clinton McDonald-trained Brinkley (Extreme Choice).

Video: Watch Musandam's trial replay at Flemington, video courtesy of Flemington Jumpouts

“Still very green. Obviously, she rolled around a lot. She was probably better at Sandown but did have the rail. It’s probably good that she’s got out in the wide-open spaces and had a bit of a look around," McArdle said.

“She’s a nice filly. If she comes through that alright, she’ll be here next Saturday.”

Musandam was sold by Silverdale Farm to Kia Ora Stud for $470,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She’s a half-sister to G1 South Australian Derby winning filly Qafila (Not A Single Doubt) who also won the Listed Debutant Stakes on debut at two.