Anabandana earned a spell after confirming her status as New Zealand’s best juvenile with a stirring win in the Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni today.

A daughter of outstanding international sire Anabaa, Anabandana had to pull out everything to confirm her favouritism in nabbing the leader Antonio Lombardo in the final stride.

The win delighted seasoned trainer Don Sellwood who described his young star as a real “beauty.”

“She did the same at Auckland at Christmas time  and she just got there,” Sellwood said. “She knows where that line is – she really does.”

“What more can she do this year! We’ve had a wonderful time with her.”

“She’s marvellous. Absolutely marvellous.”

Sellwood said the filly had to show her star quality when Antonio Lombardo kicked strongly in the straight.

“I thought she was going to go up and go past him – but you have to give the other horse credit – he really kicked on her, but she got the bob in.”

Sellwood confirmed that Anabandana would head to the paddock for a deserved break.

“She’ll go home – have a week at home – and then she goes for a spell.”

Winning rider Opie Bosson said he was happy during the running of the race but on the line thought he was beaten a nose.

“Everything went to plan (during the race), I got her off the fence and I thought I had the second horse well and truly beat – but he kept fighting back.”

“On the line I wasn’t sure whether I’d got up. I actually thought I got beat.”

“All credit to my filly she really knuckled down and she got her nose out on the line when it counted,” Bosson summed up.

Anabandana was purchased by leading New Zealand bloodstock agent Marcus Corban for $26,000 from the Reavill Farm draft at the 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

Corban bought the filly on behalf of Hamilton based client Christopher Grace – a happy man whose $26,000 investment is looking a masterstroke.

She’s already earned NZ$350,000 and looks to have an extremely bright future as a racehorse and down the track as a broodmare prospect.

She is by Anabaa – the sire of outstanding female gallopers including Goldikova, Virage de Fortune, Imananabaa, Court, French Bid and this season’s Villiers Stakes winner Dances on Waves.

She is the second winning produced by her dam – the well bred but unraced Nureyev mare Great Notice.

As well as Anabandana, Great Notice is the dam of four other winners including the Gimcrack Stakes winner Gybe.

Great Notice is a full sister to the international stakes winner European Rose – best known in recent times as the dam of New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner King’s Rose.

 The latest weanling from Great Notice – a filly by Stratum – will go under the hammer at next month’s Magic Millions National Weanling Sale at the Gold Coast.

Winner: Anabandana (Anabaa-Great Notice)
Race: Manawatu RC Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes G1 (1400m)
Sold for: $26,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Reavill Farm
Buyer: Marcus Corban Bloodstock
Earnings: NZ$350,000
Owner(s): CJ Grace
Trainer: Don Sellwood