Anamoe's first foals make a strong debut at Randwick trials

The first season progeny of Anamoe, a sire who commanded significant attention at the 2026 yearling sales, made a striking public appearance as two-year-olds on Monday morning at Randwick, living up to the considerable expectations.

Two juveniles representing the Darley stallion Anamoe contested the opening official two-year-old trials of the season on Randwick's Kensington track, and both proved victorious.

In the colts and geldings division, the Bjorn Baker-trained Nonu delivered a commanding performance to win the fourth of five 850-metre heats. Not long after, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-prepared filly Runaway Diva triumphed in the final fillies' heat.

Baker acknowledged that the NZ$600,000 he paid for Nonu at the Karaka Yearling Sale was more than he intended, but he's now delighted with the purchase.

"He's a really nice horse, he's got plenty of quality about him," Baker said. "We probably went beyond our budget in New Zealand to buy him. But Anamoe was a superstar racehorse and I think he's going to be a superstar stallion."

Nonu crossed the line 3-1/2 lengths ahead of Eagle Jac, a colt by Jacquinot, in a swift 49.02 seconds. Runaway Diva clocked 49.22secs in her winning effort.

The filly, a $380,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling and a daughter of Fleet Dove, needed more encouragement than Nonu to win her trial. However, the runner-up, Everlasting Grace, impressed in second place with a light ride, and Bott expressed enthusiasm for her future.

"I think the Anamoes in general have been very impressive; great constitutions the way they've handled themselves and physically she's a great example of them," he stated. "She's a lovely, strong type and I think there's a lot of improvement to come off the back of today with her. It was great to see the way she responded under pressure and she just kept finding."

Waterhouse and Bott also celebrated victory in the day's concluding trial, with Trapeze Artist colt Flying Houdini recording 49.05secs. Baker also trained another winner on the morning's card.

The Warwick Farm trainer's other success came with Stay Inside youngster Out Of Bounds, who won the third trial for colts and geldings in 48.90secs, matching the fastest time of the set.

This time was equalled by the Marc and Mitchell Conners-trained Exceedance filly She's Supreme, who was victorious in the third fillies' trial.

Michael Freedman was the sole other trainer to achieve multiple wins, as Written Tycoon youngster Proverb overcame interference to win the first trial in 50.25secs. Subsequently, Ole Kirk filly Straddha completed the second fillies' trial in 49.72secs.

Peter Snowden-trained Capitalist filly Shezablaze (49.53) and Chris Waller's I Am Invincible colt Fiji, who appeared to have more in hand when winning the second colts and geldings trial by 1-1/2 lengths in 49.92secs, were the remaining winners.

With these promising results, the progeny of Anamoe are expected to attract significant attention from those seeking the best racing odds on online bookmakers.