Australia's weight-for-age champion Anamoe atoned for his controversial defeat to State Of Rest in last year's Cox Plate by winning Moonee Valley's showpiece event on Saturday.

Ridden by James McDonald for Godolphin's Australian head trainer James Cummings, Anamoe ($2.40 favourite) defeated fast-finishing pair I'm Thunderstruck ($10) and El Bodegon ($6.50).

Zaaki ($6.50) attempted to lead throughout under Jamie Kah but was overrun upon straightening before battling into fourth.

"I was on a champion today, I weren't going to lie, it's been a big build-up," said McDonald. "I can't believe it, it's unbelievable.

"I felt the tension, you could cut it with a butter knife, It's good to get it over with. I don't know how Hughie Bowman got through it with four of them," McDonald quipped referring to his rival's four-successive victories aboard champion mare Winx from 2015 to 2018.

In winning the Cox Plate, Anamoe became the most prolific Group 1 winner for Godolphin, his tally exceeding that of Daylami - who won seven G1s but only six of them for Godolphin from 1997 to 1999 - and Fantastic Light from 2000 and 2001.

"He's the best horse I've had anything to do with, it's a humbling experience for me, it's got me a little lost for words," Cummings said.

"The right horses have run second and third, so it's a proper Cox Plate."

Michael Kent Jnr, co-trainer of I'm Thunderstruck with senior partner Mick Price, said the Cox Plate result, coupled with his last-start second to Anamoe in the G1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m), provided conclusive evidence the Shocking gelding could run the distance.

"It was an awesome run, we were in an awful spot, last the fence and they were going slow mid-race, running 13.5s and 13.4s and I was thinking it was going to be so difficult," Kent Jnr said.

"He just ran so well and his run never ended, he was strong past the line, so in one sense it's heartbreak but we know he gets 2000 metres at this level."

A four-year-old entire by Street Boss, Anamoe has won each of his four starts this season at G1 level, with racing administrators and fans alike wishful of one more racetrack appearance this year in the $3m G1 VRC Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 5.

Racing.com

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