06/10/00 Anabaa Filly Amonita Wins Group One at Longchamp

Leading first season sire Anabaa opened his Group One progeny account when his filly Amonita stepped up in grade to romp to a comprehensive two length victory in the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp on Saturday.

Anabaa has 14 winners and eight placegetters in France as well as outstanding Listed Gimcrack Stakes winner Donna Natalia, who won on debut by six lengths at Randwick last weekend.

Amonita will target the French 1,000 Guineas with Ladbrokes reacting to her win by installing the filly at 10-1 second favourite in early betting for the classic.

Amonita, prepared by Pascal Bary and ridden by Thierry Jarnet, overcame being held up early and blocked for a run with an exceptional burst of speed in the final 200m of the race.

She was runner up in the Prix Yacowlef on August 1 at Deauville on debut to subsequent Group One Prix de la Salamandre placegetter Wooden Doll, before winning easily at Longchamp on September 10.

Amonita landed the Prix du Casino de Royan by half a length from an excellent field.

"I like her a lot; she went on again when attacked, and many people have been trying to buy the filly," enthused Bary.

"Ï thought she had a great chance and she proved me right. She will now be put away for the season and will come back next year with the Group One Poule d’Éssai des Puliches (French 1,000 Guineas) in mind," Bary said of the filly who now has two wins and one placing from three appearances.

Anabaa is leading first-season sire in France with exciting first crop representatives including the Criquette Head-trained Glowing Beam, three-length winner of the Prix de Villebon in a fast time on his debut at Chantilly.

He is regarded as one of the hottest first season stallions here and was sixth on the list of first season sires by average at the 2000 Inglis Easter Sale with 18 sold at an average of $119,722 and his progeny fetching up to $250,000.

The Maktoum Al Maktoum owned colt may target either the Group One Grand Criterium at Longchamp on October 8 or the 10-furlong Criterium de Saint-Cloud.

Criquette Head prepared Anabaa to win twice in 1995 before reeling off six straight wins in 1996 including the July Cup and the Prix Maurice de Gheest.

Anabaa is one of the most sought-after stallions in France.

The Danzig stallion’s yearlings averaged FF483,333 at the recent Agence Francaise yearling sale in Deauville.

However, Anabaa’s fourth southern hemisphere season at Widden Stud has been curtailed on veterinary advice as the stallion has a surface abrasion on his penis that will prevent him filling a full book of excellent mares.

"We are very disappointed to report that Anabaa will be resting here this spring as he has been extremely popular," said Widden Stud general manager Derek Field.

"Anabaa suffered a minor injury in France that has flared up again and although it is not a major injury it is best to rest him on veterinary advice for 60 days, which means he will miss this southern hemisphere season.

"The long term future of the horse is the most important factor and we want to give him time to heal properly," he said.

"Anabaa is an exciting young stallion and we can’t take any risks with him."

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