Chris Waller to saddle up five runners against superstar Anamoe in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes

Waller had considered accepting with Fangirl ($9.50) in both the Apollo Stakes and Group 1 Orr Stakes at Sandown Hillside but has elected not to have a runner in the Victorian race.

Fangirl, Hinged ($12) and El Bodegon ($8.50) all had exhibition gallops at Randwick last Saturday with his Group 1 winning mares set to follow a similar path in the early autumn.

“They can start in the Apollo, go to the Chipping Norton and then work out with Fangirl whether she is better over 1500(m) and Hinged is better over 2000(m) would be my gut feeling,” Waller said.

Annabel Neasham’s Group 1 winners Mo’unga ($7.50) and Laws Of Indices ($16) add further weight to the Apollo Stakes field but both have drawn wide in barrier 11 and 10 respectively.

Brad Widdup’s maiden Group 1 winner Icebath ($13) will also return.

Waller will also take on one of Godolphin’s most exciting gallopers in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) for fillies.

Coolmore Stud Stakes winner In Secret ($2.40) is set to start favourite in the sprint against Waller’s Flight Stakes heroine Zougotcha ($3.40) and Thousand Guineas victor Madame Pommery ($21) with Golden Slipper winner Fireburn ($8.50) also set to return for Gary Portelli.

Waller has accepted with an all-star cast of his carnival contenders with Group 1 mares Fangirl and Hinged joined by Cox Plate placegetter El Bodegon, Caulfield Cup winner Durston and the classy Surefire.

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A high quality field of 12 has accepted for the $250,000 Apollo Stakes headlined by the return of Godolphin superstar Anamoe, which opened as $1.90 TAB favourite for the feature where he jumps from barrier eight.

Waller’s five-pronged attack as well as talented gallopers from the Annabel Neasham and Brad Widdup yard are set to give the James Cummings-trained superstar plenty of competition.

Anamoe is the hot favourite for the Apollo Stakes. Picture: Jay Town-Racing Photos via Getty Images

Waller had considered accepting with Fangirl ($9.50) in both the Apollo Stakes and Group 1 Orr Stakes at Sandown Hillside but has elected not to have a runner in the Victorian race.

Fangirl, Hinged ($12) and El Bodegon ($8.50) all had exhibition gallops at Randwick last Saturday with his Group 1 winning mares set to follow a similar path in the early autumn.

“They can start in the Apollo, go to the Chipping Norton and then work out with Fangirl whether she is better over 1500(m) and Hinged is better over 2000(m) would be my gut feeling,” Waller said.

Annabel Neasham’s Group 1 winners Mo’unga ($7.50) and Laws Of Indices ($16) add further weight to the Apollo Stakes field but both have drawn wide in barrier 11 and 10 respectively.

Brad Widdup’s maiden Group 1 winner Icebath ($13) will also return.

Waller will also take on one of Godolphin’s most exciting gallopers in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) for fillies.

Coolmore Stud Stakes winner In Secret ($2.40) is set to start favourite in the sprint against Waller’s Flight Stakes heroine Zougotcha ($3.40) and Thousand Guineas victor Madame Pommery ($21) with Golden Slipper winner Fireburn ($8.50) also set to return for Gary Portelli.

Zougotcha returns in the Light Fingers Stakes. Picture: Mark Evans-Getty Images

Star jockey James McDonald will continue his partnership with Zougotcha while Jason Collett has snared the ride on Madame Pommery.

“Zougotcha is probably a little bit sharper, Madame Pommery is more of a miler, she won a Thousand Guineas which was her best run,” Waller said.

“Zougotcha is pretty effective at all trips.

“I think the punters would agree with me there.”

There were 14 acceptors for the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) with 11 set to line up in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).

Golden Slipper favourite King’s Gambit was among the acceptors for the Pierro Plate with the $2m Inglis Millennium also taking place on a blockbuster card.