Flemington Vanity return for Anchor Bid

Spring plans for Anchor Bid didn’t work out as hoped and the filly is set to make her return in a stakes race at Flemington.

Anchor Bid bumped into some smart performers during her first campaign as a two-year-old including Levendi and Sully on debut at Ballarat.

She further enhanced her status with a second placing behind Royal Symphony in July at Flemington, returning a fortnight later to win over 1800m.

Spring plans, including the VRC Oaks, were on the table following that win and the Darren Weir-trained filly did nothing but enhance those thoughts with a first-up win over 1600m at Bendigo, lowering the colours of eventual Oaks winner Pinot.

However her Oaks campaign began to unravel soon after when beaten over 1800m at Flemington in September before a midfield finish in the Edward Manifold Stakes in October ended her campaign.

After a break and steady build up, Anchor Bid is ready for her return in the Group Three The Vanity on Saturday.

Weir’s Warrnambool lieutenant Jarrod McLean said the filly was progressing nicely, but as yet was not fully wound up.

“She had a trial at Terang a couple of weeks ago and went there for another gallop last week,” McLean said.

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“She’s first-up on Saturday and we’ll need to have a look at her under race conditions, but she’s coming along nicely.

“She’s heading towards Adelaide hopefully so we’re not in any rush, but she needs to kick off and get going.”

Weir also has Platinum Angel, Twitchy Frank and Lucky Cat nominated.

McLean said the two latter horses were trained at Weir’s Ballarat stable, adding Platinum Angel, under his care at Warrnambool, would be saved for Moonee Valley on Friday week.

Last-start winners Cliffs Edge and Peaceful State, who are on a path towards the Australian Guineas, will both contest Saturday’s Group Three C S Hayes Stakes.

The Weir-trained Palentino was first home in the C S Hayes in 2016, only to lose the race on protest to Tivaci, before coming out to claim the Guineas at his next start.

McLean said both Cliffs Edge and Peaceful State were in good order ahead of Saturday.

“Both galloped on the course proper at Warrnambool and all’s good with how they went,” McLean said.