Continuing an unbeaten spring, Anamoe delivered on every expectation for world racing superpower Godolphin and the operation's Australian trainer James Cummings.

In making it seven wins at racing's highest level, Anamoe was the strongest horse when it counted most as Moonee Valley hosted a Cox Plate crowd for the first time since 2019.

The four-year-old, beaten in controversial circumstances last year, deserved an audience in his bid for redemption and he didn't disappoint his growing legion of fans.

Given a perfect ride from James McDonald, Anamoe, the $2.40 favourite, settled in the front division and responded brilliantly when the race got serious.

He surged to the front on the turn, claiming the leader Zaaki before establishing a clear break on his rivals.

He seemed set for an emphatic victory until I'm Thunderstruck and El Bodegon emerged from a group of chasers to make late bids before taking the minor placings.

I'm Thunderstruck ($10) finished a long neck away with El Bodegon ($6.50) a long head further back in third place.

Zaaki, rated the biggest threat to Anamoe, wound up fourth with Alligator Blood finishing fifth.

"I wanted to build the revs up into the corner. Hence, probably I went a tad earlier than I wanted to but he was always going to sustain that gallop," McDonald told the Seven Network.

"Even though it looked like they were coming out of the pack to get him, he would have dug deep. As you know, this horse, he can find a bit."

The win ensured Cummings emulated his famous grandfather Bart as a Cox Plate-winning trainer.

"It is a humbling experience for me but I'm just grateful that I can be part of a horse as great as Anamoe," Cummings said.

"The truth is, he has just had a gun preparation.

"A couple of times it hasn't been plain sailing but my team have come together in phenomenal fashion to have him arrive in perfect shape."

Cummings said he was a contented trainer during the race as McDonald had Anamoe within striking distance of the leaders.

"Halfway through the race I couldn't help feel very calm about it because there were no surprises. Everything went to script," he said.

Appropriately, Anamoe's triumph also broke a frustrating sequence of placings for Godolphin in Australia's most prestigious race as he became Sheikh Mohammed's most successful Group One racehorse.

Anamoe was given his chance to win the Cox Plate as an immature three-year-old and he came close when denied by State Of Rest.

Australian Associated Press