George Main Stakes 2022 Preview: Field, Betting & Tips
Anamoe is the favourite to win the Group 1 George Main Stakes at Randwick this weekend after he secured a commanding victory in last month’s Winx Stakes.
That win made him the first horse since Show A Heart in 2001 to win Group 1 races at the ages of two, three and four. It was the ninth win in his impressive career, and he will now seek to notch a 10th triumph in the $1 million George Main Stakes this weekend.
However, Anamoe faces stern competition from several elite milers, including Fangirl and Profondo. There is also a chance that fellow superstar Zaaki could feature, although reports suggest that trainer Annabel Neasham would prefer to wait a week and run him in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield instead.
Either way, it promises to be an entertaining race, featuring several Group 1 winners. Read on to learn more about it.
George Main Stakes Background and History
The George Main Stakes was first held in 1945, when Modulation saluted. It is named after a former chairman of the Australian Jockey Club. Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee Shannon secured back-to-back wins in the following two years, and the race saw several more famous winners during the subsequent decades, including Kingston Town, Lonhro, Winx and Verry Elleegant.
It was a principal race from 1945 to 1978, and it secured Group 1 status in 1979. The race was initially run over 1 mile, and it has taken place over 1600m since 1972. Iconic trainer T.J. Smith earned a record 11 wins in this event, while the wondermare Winx secured a record three wins in a row from 2016-2018. She also holds the record for the fastest finishing time – 1:33.65 in 2017.
George Main Stakes Notable Winners
Some of the greatest racehorses in history have prevailed in the George Main Stakes over the years:
- Shannon | An Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductee who enjoyed great success before he was sold to an American buyer in 1948. He went on to equal the world records for 1800m and 2000m, and he was named American Champion Older Male Horse.
- San Domenico | Another Hall of Fame Inductee who won eight races that hold Group 1 status in the modern era. He was a specialist weight-carrying sprinter, who earned 25 wins in 79 starts.
- Wenona Girl | This famous mare won 27 races across a diverse array of distances, 15 of which are now designated Group 1 events. Like most of the runners on this list, she was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
- Baguette | The first winner of the Two-Year-Old Triple Crown. Baguette was undefeated as a two-year-old, and he won several big Group 1 races.
- Kingston Town | The winner of three Cox Plates and 11 other Group One races, who became the first horse in Australia to earn more than $1 million in prize money. Kingston Town had a Timeform rating of 137.
- Emancipation | The 1984 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year, who secured six Group 1 wins in Sydney. She won 13 of her 15 starts.
- Vo Rogue | Vo Rogue won six Group 1 races. He was famous for his front-running style, which would see him open up huge leads in the early stages of races. Racing fans and race callers still refer to a horse as setting up a “Vo Rogue-style” lead.
- Shogun Lodge | Shogun Lodge won three Group 1 races and finished second in 12 more.
- Lonhro | This 11-time winner of Group 1 races was named Australian Racehorse of the Year in 2004. He won 26 races overall, racking up almost $6 million in prize money.
- More Joyous | The New Zealand-bred mare won eight Group 1 races for Gai Waterhouse during a stellar career.
- Winx | Arguably the greatest racehorse of all time. Winx won 33 races in a row, 25 of them at Group 1 level, before retiring in 2019. She was the world’s top-ranked turf horse in 2016 and 2017, she became just the third horse to be inducted into the Hall of Fame while still training and she earned more than $26 million in prize money.
- Kolding | A winner of three Group 1 races, including the inaugural Golden Eagle in 2020, ensuring that his career prize money has already smashed through the $6 million barrier.
- Verry Elleegant | The winner of the 2021 Melbourne Cup, the 2020 Caulfield Cup and nine other Group 1 races.
George Main Stakes 2021 Winner
The $1.75 favourite Verry Elleegant won a thrilling George Main Stakes last year. Riodini looked certain to salute after breaking away from the chasing pack, but the superstar mare gave chase, reeled him in and claimed a famous win.
Two months later, she won the Melbourne Cup. She was crowned Australian Racehorse of the Year for 2020/21. In the 2021 Cox Plate, she finished third, behind State Of Rest and Anamoe, and now Anamoe will bid to follow in her footsteps by clinching the George Main Stakes.
George Main Stakes Time & Date
The George Main Stakes will take place at 3.15pm AEST on Saturday 17th September. It takes place on the right-handed turf track at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. The race is run under weight for age conditions, open to horses aged three and older, and the winner earns a ballot exemption for the Epsom Handicap in October.
George Main Stakes Field & Contenders
Anamoe
James Cummings’ four-year-old star took his career prize money to $5.25 million after outpacing his rivals in the Group 1 Winx Stakes last month. It means he has secured Group 1 wins in each of the past three seasons. He was second in the Golden Slipper during his two-year-old season, and he went on to win the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick.
At three, he clinched The Run to the Rose, the Caulfield Guineas, the Hobartville Stakes and the Rosehill Guineas. Anamoe was also unfortunate to finish second to State of Rest in the Cox Plate, as the stewards controversially dismissed rider Craig Williams’ protests of interference.
Anamoe should now be surging with momentum after finishing 1 ¾ lengths clear of Fangirl in the 1400m Winx Stakes. He is the clear favourite for the George Main Stakes. One of his rivals will be Duais, trained by Cummings’ brother Edward.
Zaaki
Many racing fans are hoping to see a mouth-watering showdown between Anamoe and Zaaki in the George Main Stakes. Zaaki was named Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse for the 2021/22 season after securing multiple Group 1 victories, along with the All Star Mile over 1600m at Flemington, taking his career prize money past the $7.4 million mark.
He has been nominated for this race and he was drawn in Barrier 7. However, trainer Neasham is said to favour skipping the George Main Stakes and running him in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield a week later instead.
Fangirl
Fangirl delivered a superb performance to win the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000m at Newcastle in March. She then struggled on heavy ground in the Queen of the Turf Stakes, before enjoying a 133-day break. Fangirl ran Anamoe reasonably close first-up in the 1400m Winx Stakes. She could enjoy a longer distance on Saturday.
Profundo
Profundo finished a nose behind Fangirl in third at the star-studded Winx Stakes, which featured six previous Group 1 winners. He had previously won the G1 Spring Champion Stakes over 2000m, and he is another horse that should enjoy a longer trip this weekend.
Hinged
Waller is hoping that this talented mare emulates Winx’s success in the George Main Stakes. The Hall of Fame trainer has a strong hand, with both Fangirl and Hinged in the mix, as he bids to win this race for the ninth time. That would leave him just two wins behind Smith.
George Main Stakes Odds
| Horse | Fixed Win | Fixed Place |
| Anamoe | $1.95 | $1.20 |
| Zaaki | $3.30 | $1.40 |
| Fangirl | $9.00 | $2.25 |
| Profondo | $18.00 | $3.50 |
| Hinged | $19.00 | $3.60 |
| Converge | $20.00 | $3.60 |
| Duais | $20.00 | $3.60 |
| Icebath | $26.00 | $4.00 |
| Montefilia | $26.00 | $4.00 |
| Maximal | $101.00 | $11.00 |
George Main Stakes Prize Money
Prize money for the George Main Stakes stands at a cool $1 million. It was $500,000 in 2020, but it doubled last year, and that purse will be available again this time around. The winner will be awarded $580,000, with $190,00 to the runner-up, $98,000 for third, $44,000 for fourth, $22,000 for fifth, $10,000 for sixth, seventh and eighth, and $8,000 for ninth and 10th.
George Main Stakes Tips
It is hard to look past Anamoe in this race. He has a strong record at Randwick, and he should have too much for his rivals down the stretch. Zaaki is a track specialist and must be respected if he runs, while Hinged and Profundo are dangerous, but Anamoe is a superstar. He should live up to his status by securing another famous win in the George Main Stakes.
**Odds quoted are accurate at the time of writing but are subject to change.
