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24.
Another French Star for Anabaa
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07/06/2002 |
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Proven Danzig sire Anabaa (USA) further enhanced his credentials when his three-year-old colt Rouvres won the Group One Prix Jean Prat at the French Derby meeting at Chantilly on June 2.
Rouvres raced keenly in fourth position on the rails and when favorite Imtiyaz (Woodman), ridden by Frankie Dettori, looked to have the race won, Olivier Doleuze sent Rouvres forward to deny Imtiyaz and late challenger Shaanmer (Darshaan) by a short neck.
"Rouvres is unbeaten now in three starts this year, and he's likely to go toward either the Group One Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on June 23, or the Group One Secretariat Stakes at Arlington in August," said Widden Stud's Antony Thompson.
Bred and raced by Alec Head and trained by his daughter Criquette Head-Maarek, Rouvres could also target a Royal Ascot prize as he is entered for the G1 St James's Palace Stakes.
In mid-May, Rouvres won the Group Three Prix de Guiche at Longchamp, giving Criquette Head-Maarek her first Group winner for the season.
"Anabaa has had an excellent season in France where he has covered around 100 mares and he is almost fully-booked here with a limit of 75 mares," said Thompson.
"His third Group One winner comes exactly a year after Anabaa Blue won the French Derby," Thompson noted.
Anabaa Blue is likely to contest the Grand Prix de Chantilly on June 9 after recovering from a setback that resulted in a below-par fifth to Aquarelliste in the Group One Prix Ganay at Longchamp last month.
"He ran a temperature after the Ganay, but he is going very well now," said trainer Carlos Lerner.
After a setback curtailed his southern hemisphere season in 2000, Anabaa returned in 2001 to cover a superlative book of mares.
"This season, Anabaa has 29 individual winners from 47 starters in Australia, including five stakes performers," said Thompson.
Stakes winners this season include the John Hawkes-trained Yell who won the Listed Golden Stakes at Doomben in April by 5-1/2 lengths before a short head separated him from Lovely Jubly on the line in the Group Three Champagne Stakes at Doomben on May 6.
"Anabaa has also demonstrated his versatility in Hong Kong where he has had four winners this season, with leading two-year-old Anabatik and Derby runner-up Precision among them," said Thompson.
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