Anmaat battles for Group One glory at ParisLongchamp

Anmaat secured his first Group One success when leading home a British one-two in the Prix d’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp.

The five-year-old progressed rapidly throughout an unbeaten 2022 which culminated in a Group Two success in the Prix Dollar at the same track on Arc weekend.

And following a pleasing return behind Adayar in the rearranged Gordon Richards Stakes at Newmarket, the Owen Burrows-trained runner showed his liking for the French capital once again on Monday afternoon.

Your first 30 days for just £1

Ridden with patience by Jim Crowley in the 10-furlong contest as David Simcock’s Light Infantry dictated terms on the front end from Joseph O’Brien’s Buckaroo, Anmaat was asked to go through the gears and deliver his challenge when angled out by his rider in the home straight.

But with Light Infantry and Buckaroo refusing to lie down, plus home contenders Erevann and Facteur Cheval quickening along with Anmaat, Burrows’ gelding had to pull out all the stops to claim gold in a fantastic five-way dash for the winning post, with Light Infantry holding on for the silver medal.

“He’s such a tough horse and it is very pleasing to keep his progression going,” said Burrows.

“I don’t think he has been out of the first three throughout his career and it’s a credit to him.

Trainer Owen Burrows has enjoyed a fine few days thanks to Hukum and Anmaat
Trainer Owen Burrows has enjoyed a fine few days thanks to Hukum and Anmaat (John Walton/PA)

“We were a little concerned going into today that the ground was plenty quick enough. I’m not saying things went wrong in the race, but we weren’t as far forward as we ideally hoped we would be and it turned into a bit of a sprint and like Jim said, they didn’t go overly quick.

“So he was sprinting and they were sprinting and he’s done well to pick them off you know. We just about got away with that today and we were thinking the ground would be a little slower than it was.”

Anmaat holds entries in both the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse, but the Farncombe Down Stables handler is in no rush to pick out a new target following his successful raid on Paris – a win which completes a fine few days for the trainer following Hukum’s winning return in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown.



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Burrows continued: “He’s in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and he’s in the Eclipse, but let’s get him home and see how he is after this and we’ll have a chat with the team and come up with a plan then.

“It’s been an amazing few days and I don’t think I’ll have many weeks like this. It’s a credit to the team at home to get Hukum back and to get this lad to keep progressing as he has.

“Four runs ago he was winning a John Smith’s Cup and then he has gone Group Three, Group Two, Group One which is a big big team effort.”

Other Recent Posts by This Author:



Try Tix for Better Tote Returns

Your first 30 days for just £1