Simon O’Donnell will have several irons in the fire when the spring carnival hots up at Flemington this Saturday.
O’Donnell and his OTI partner Terry Henderson lost G1 Queensland Derby winner Brambles for the spring but they’re still alive with Manighar and Quest For Peace.
Manighar (Linamix) is trained by Peter Moody and he races first-up in the G2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at headquarters. The French bred gelding completed a Group 1 treble in the Australian Cup, Ranvet Stakes and The BMW earlier this year.
The Luca Cumani trained Quest For Peace (Galileo) earned a trip to Australia winning the G3 Glorious Stakes and LR March Stakes at Goodwood last month. Cumani came within a whisker of winning the 2008 Melbourne Cup for OTI with Bauer.
O’Donnell was philosophical after watching Bauer go down a nose to Viewed. “It’s a great game racing,” he said stoically. “Hopefully the centimetre will go our way next time.”
An hour later the OTI team were cheering home their Danehill stallion Annenkov in the LR Emirates Airlines Plate at headquarters. “He’s one of the best-bred horses in Australia,” O’Donnell beamed. “We will find a good stud for him either next year or the year after.”
The former Test cricketer and Channel 9 anchor was as good as his word sending Annenkov to Allandale Park in NSW. His home base is owned by respected horseman John Todd and is situated in high country south of Bathurst.
“Simon has supported Annenkov with his own mares and his yearlings are really thriving,” Todd’s daughter Claire said this week. “It’s beautiful horse country up here at Allandale Park – cool in winter and not too hot in summer. And you can grow anything on the volcanic soil.”
OTI yearlings by Annenkov include fillies from Silent Desire (El Moxie) who is related to world champion sprinter Silent Witness and Wenu (Chi), a winning half-sister to Champion Chilean 3YOs We Can Seek and Weekend Trip.
One of the Annenkov colts is out of LR Morphettville Guineas winner Cult Figure (Ahonoora). The dam has foaled five winners including Cargo Cult (LR John Dillon Stakes).
Annenkov (Ire) won two races at Maisons-Laffitte and was stakes placed at Deauville and Chantilly before arriving in Australia. He’s a Danehill brother to G1 winners Aquarelliste (French Oaks) and Artiste Royal (Charles Whittingham Memorial).
Allandale Park has priced Annenkov at a $3,300 fee this year. He stands alongside Assafa (Danehill), Diogenes (Marscay), Barbajuan (Danehill Dancer) and Carry the Crown (Vice Regent).
– Karl Patterson
ANNENKOV