Anabandana earned a spell after confirming her status as New Zealand’s best juvenile with a stirring win in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni on Saturday.  Anabandana collared the leader Antonio Lombardo in the final stride.

“She did the same in the Diamond Stakes in Auckland at Christmas time,” trainer Don Sellwood said.  “She knows where that line is.  She’s a real beauty.”

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.”

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.  He bought the filly on behalf of Hamilton based client Christopher Grace and that investment is looking a masterstroke with $350,000 already in the bank.

She is by former Widden shuttler Anabaa and is the second winning produced by Nureyev mare Great Notice who has produced 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 1000 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.