Written by Paul Vettise
James Cummings provided half of the field for the G2 Percy Sykes S., but for once this season Godolphin were denied victory in a 2-year-old feature.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-prepared Anaheed (Fastnet Rock) denied Cummings, who this season has won the G1 Golden Slipper S. with Kiamichi (Sidestep) and the G1 Sires’ Produce S. and G2 Silver Slipper S. with Microphone (Exceed And Excel).
He has also sent out Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) to claim the G3 Kindergarten Plate, Exhilarates (Snitzel) the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and Pin Sec (Lonhro) won the G3 Black Opal.
Cummings went close again in the Percy Sykes with Flit (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) steaming home from the tail of the field, but not quickly enough to nab Anaheed who held on by the narrowest of margins.
"We always thought she was going to be a better 3-year-old, but she's just shown her ability.” – Paul Snowden.
"She's had a long preparation," Paul Snowden said. "We always thought she was going to be a better 3-year-old, but she's just shown her ability. She won a stakes race on Everest day and here we are now.
Anaheed
"She's done a terrific job. It's hard work to come through, not only a Blue Diamond prep, but have a freshen in between and then go through a Slipper preparation on those heavy tracks."
Anaheed was ridden aggressively from the outside gate to sit outside the leader and, after taking control 300 metres from home, stuck grimly to her task to post her third win at Randwick.
“They are the best fillies we've got and she was able to work early and still hold them off." – Tim Clark.
"She is a filly I have a bit of time for and had a bit to do with and it's great to get the win,” Clark said.
"I thought that was quite a deep race. They are the best fillies we've got and she was able to work early and still hold them off."
Bred and raced by Sheikh Khalifa, Anaheed is a daughter of the former quality race mare Rostova (Testa Rossa), who won the G1 Robert Sangster Plate, the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. and the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude. She is also the dam of the stakes placed Farooq (Frankel {GB}).
Legend lands Arrowfield
The other age group feature on the Randwick card, the G2 Arrowfield Sprint, saw Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) produce a commanding performance to win with ease.
It was his third victory from four appearances for Les Bridge, who prepares the gelding for the Hong Kong-based Boniface Ho.
"I train a lot of horses for him and every now and then he'll pick one out and take it to Hong Kong. The last one was Southern Legend," Bridge said.
"I'm actually hoping this one is too good to go to Hong Kong with the sprint races we've got here.” – Les Bridge.
"I'm actually hoping this one is too good to go to Hong Kong with the sprint races we've got here. I think he's a real good horse."
Classique Legend
Southern Legend (Not A Single Doubt) won four races from Bridge’s stable before joining Caspar Fownes and has won another four races in Hong Kong where he is also a multiple Group 1 placegetter.
Bridge is naturally desperate to keep his hands on Classique Legend, who he believes can develop into a top-line sprinter.
