Connections will consider Anmaat’s future plans following his successful return to the Rose of Lancaster at Haydock.
The Shadwell-owned gelding, who has demonstrated considerable talent, progressed through various valuable handicaps before winning his first Group Three race in the 2022 Rose of Lancaster. He then stepped up to Group Two level and ended that season on a high with a victory in the Prix Dollar at ParisLongchamp, showcasing his ability to handle the testing ground.
In 2023, Anmaat was narrowly defeated by Derby winner Adayar in the Gordon Richards Stakes before securing a breakthrough Group One win in the Prix d’Ispahan in May. However, an injury led to a lengthy 439-day absence, keeping him off the track until his recent comeback.
Returning to the Rose of Lancaster, Anmaat, the 8-11 favourite under Jim Crowley, overcame a long break to win by a neck from Jack Channon’s Certain Lad.
Burrows noted that Anmaat appeared to be in good condition following his race on Saturday, which was the most important outcome for them. He expressed satisfaction with getting the horse back on track and securing a win.
Burrows also mentioned that he had initially considered entering Anmaat in the York Stakes, which was ultimately won by Alflaila, but that race came up too soon. The timing of Alflaila’s win at York actually worked out well for them.
He expects Anmaat to build on his Haydock performance and plans to assess the horse’s condition in the coming weeks before finalising plans for his next race.
Burrows highlighted that Anmaat showed significant progress after his run last year, where he finished second to Adayar in the rearranged Gordon Richards. He hopes for similar improvement this time around, noting that while they were fortunate not to face Adayar, their performance was still strong.
He added that Anmaat has entries in both the Irish Champion Stakes and the British Champion Stakes. Although Anmaat has proven he handles soft ground well, Burrows plans to let things settle and consult with Sheikha Hissa, Angus Gold, and Richard Hills before making any further decisions.