J-Mac’s rave Cylinder review give Cummings Anamoe deja vu

There is a commonality between the star attraction at Rosehill on Saturday, Anamoe, and the Golden Slipper favourite Cylinder that only James Cummings knows, and it has him excited.

The Godolphin trainer will saddle three favourites on Saturday afternoon – Pericles in the Rosehill Guineas, Anamoe in the George Ryder Stakes and Cylinder in the world’s richest two-year-old race – and it is the latter two where Cummings can draw comparisons.

The link stems from a rave review by jockey James McDonald after Cylinder’s Todman Stakes win two weeks ago that left Cummings thinking about his superstar.

McDonald couldn’t control his enthusiasm for Cylinder’s victory and his chances in the Golden Slipper.

“He is very strong. He is push-button, and he will take improvement from that. He is great,” McDonald said.

Cummings knew his Exceed And Excel colt was above average – he proved that in the Silver Slipper and the Todman – but McDonald lifted his confidence further.

“It just reminded me about what a jockey once said to me about Anamoe. They don’t come back like that too often,” Cummings said.

Cylinder will lead the Godolphin charge in the Golden Slipper. Barber and Exploding also carry the blue colours, but by that stage of the afternoon, Cummings and McDonald might have already combined from a couple of winners.

The group 1 races start with the Rosehill Guineas, where Pericles is the $2.40 favourite after winning the Autumn Classic at Sandown last time out.

“He is going beautifully and in strong form. He was toughened up by a Derby preparation in the spring,” Cummings said. “This is the perfect race for him after he showed a fair bit of dash at the end of nine furlongs last time.”

The horse that has already done it is Anamoe. He is Godolphin’s most successful horse in terms of group 1s and stakes races.

He will be look for a ninth group 1 in the George Ryder, and punters have backed the star in to $1.60 favourite.

“I have felt the surge of support, particularly since he trained on at four and has gone to another level,” Cummings said about Anamoe.

“It is an incredible record he has got, and you have to take your hat off to the horse.

“We have, maybe, three more races left before he goes to stud, and there is expectation and pressure every time we go to the races.”

Cummings decided that the 1500m of the Ryder was more suitable to set Anamoe up for the last two peaks of his career: the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at The Championships and the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He has him sharp for Saturday after a rousing gallop on Tuesday morning.

“He was absolutely on song and in frighteningly good form,” Cummings said. “We can’t be any more enthusiastic about taking him to the races third up this campaign.