‘Absolute blinder’ of a run sets Anmaat up for Ascot defence

Owen Burrows was nothing but proud of Anmaat’s fine second to Delacroix in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes and is now looking ahead to a return to British Champions Day next month.

The first and second from Leopardstown could be set for an immediate rematch in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot, a race Anmaat won at 40-1 last season but has since shown was no fluke with some exceptional displays in defeat in the very best company.

Second at the Curragh in his reappearance in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, he filled the same position behind Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and after a long wait for suitable conditions over the height of summer had to settle for the runner-up spot again, as Delacroix proved too hot to handle on his home patch.

However, Burrows refused to be downbeat and with defending his Champion Stakes crown always top of Anmaat’s priorities this term, he now hopes the seven-year-old’s consistency can be rewarded in Berkshire on October 18.

Burrows said: “I’m thrilled with him and he has run an absolute blinder and done nothing wrong. I’m a bit gutted to finish second again, but I’m so proud of him.

“You can’t knock him and I can’t be anything but proud. He turns up every time and does his thing and I wish I had a few more like him.

“Hopefully it might be a little on the softer side at Ascot and it was always the plan to come here and then all being well go back to Ascot to defend his title in the middle of October.”

It was fellow British raider Royal Champion who filled the other spot on the podium, with Karl Burke ending a brilliant afternoon in the Irish capital by saddling the 18-1 shot to finish third in the hands of Clifford Lee.

The Spigot Lodge handler was delighted with the huge performance from the seven-year-old – who had seen off Ed Walker’s Almaqam at York prior to his trip to Ireland – and is eyeing an even further overseas jaunt for his charge, who will now head for the valuable Bahrain International Trophy.

Burke said: “I think it was a superb run and the winner looks an absolute monster. He looked a superb horse in the paddock and it’s the first time I’ve really had the chance to look at him properly in the flesh.

“We got in a great rhythm and he looks to have taken a step forward from both all known form and his win at York last time and I think the result today confirms that.

“Watching the replay he was hard for Cliff to pull up and I wouldn’t mind stepping him up in trip at some stage. But that can wait till next year and he goes for the Bahrain International in November now and we think he should run a big race over there.

“It’s fantastic to be able to run in these races with a seven-year-old gelding and see him keep improving like that.”