Anmaat delivers in Prix Dollar thriller

Owen Burrows’ Anmaat just grasped victory in the Group Two Qatar Prix Dollar.

The colt took up the lead over a furlong from home, locking horns with Andre Fabre’s Junko as the pair crossed the line in unison.

A photo finish showed Burrows’ runner, piloted by Jim Crowley, to have prevailed from a field of 12, with Simon and Ed Crisford’s West Wind Blows a further four lengths back in third.

Anmaat has been on a rapid upwards trajectory this season, building on last year’s Cambridgeshire second to win the John Smith’s Cup on his return at York in July before adding a Haydock Group Three the following month.

Burrows now has Group One aspirations for his charge.

He said: “He surprised us a bit at Haydock but on the back of that we were perfectly happy with him at home.

“He ran a big race in the Cambridgeshire, so we knew we had a decent horse on our hands.

“He’s taken the steps from a York handicap to a Group Three and now a Group Two. So we will let the dust settle and find a Group One for him.”

He’s taken the steps from a York handicap to a Group Three and now a Group Two. So we will let the dust settle and find a Group One for him

Crowley praised Anmaat’s willing attitude after his narrow success.

He said: “It was a tough win for him. He was headed, he fought back and wasn’t stopping. That’s the most testing ground he’s faced, but he handled it well.

“Like a few of Owen’s horses, he’s gone forward and played his part in what’s been a very good season.”