News

Stakes Double for Anabaa

20th Sep 2010

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 18 September 2010

The loss of accomplished shuttle sire Anabaa (USA) was highlighted at Caulfield on Saturday with a running stakes double for slick sprinter Avenue and Caulfield Guineas contender Anacheeva.

A last start winner of the Listed MVRC McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley on August 21, the Peter Moody trained Anacheeva rattled home out wide to nab race favourite Toorak Toff in the shadows of the post to take the 1400 metre Group Three MRC Guineas Prelude by a long neck.

“We gave him a month between runs to keep him fresh for 1400 metres,” Moody said.

“There didn’t look to be a lot of speed on paper but thankfully due to my mares winning the last couple, everyone wanted to lead then.

“He’s a nice colt with good quality about him. He had that bit of brilliance about him and we are really looking forward to the (Caulfield) Guineas.”

Moody said Anacheeva would go straight into the Group One MRC Caulfield Guineas without another run in a bid to keep the colt fresh enough for the 1600-metre trip.

Purchased for $110,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2009 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Anacheeva (pictured) was bred by New Zealander Tim Bodle and is raced by the Rockmount Syndicate.

A winner of three of his five starts to date, Anacheeva has already returned his connections $189,275 in prizemoney.

A full brother to $1.5 million earner and AJC Australian Derby hero Headturner as well as being a half-brother to stakes-winning sprinter Kroner, Anacheeva is the fourth winner for the Zabeel mare Monroe Magic (NZ), who was covered by Golden Slipper winner Sebring last spring.

Also saluting for the Peter Moody stable in the previous race was the speedy grey mare Avenue, who ran her rivals off their legs to win the Listed MRC Testa Rossa Stakes over 1200 metres by four lengths.

“She’s had a few issues,” Moody said. “She has taken a little while to get back on track.

“I thought her last run was good and she would be competitive here. She’s probably mature enough now for us to try her out at 1400 metres.”

Retained to race by her breeders Limerick Lane Syndicate, Avenue (pictured www.stevehart.com.au) has the overall record of five wins and a second from 12 starts earning some $427,863 in prizemoney.

Avenue is a full sister to dual Group One winner Virage de Fortune and is the sixth winner from the Kenmare (Fr) mare Virage, a daughter of champion racemare Emancipation.

Purchased by Limerick Lane for $200,000 at the 2003 Inglis Broodmare Sale, Virage has produced several foals for her current owners including an Encosta de Lago colt that made $600,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year when consigned on their behalf by Yarraman Park.

That colt, named Eravana, incidentally made his debut at Kembla Grange on Saturday for the John O’Shea stable running a good second and will be worth following next start.

A wonderful sire for Widden Stud during his many years of shuttling to Australia, Anabaa (USA) passed away last year in France.