Anabaa stallion Tsigane sired his first winner when Larneuk Stud homebred Kiss My Ice scored an all-the-way victory in the De Bortoli Maiden Plate (1200m) at Yarra Valley on Thursday.

Kiss My Ice (3f Tsigane – Alpine Countess by Tirol) was hunted up from an outside gate by Chris Symons and she still had plenty to offer when challenged by Kelvista in the straight.  The winner was racing second-up after being placed in a Moe maiden on December 17.

Kiss My Ice is one of five starters to date for Tsigane who retired to Larneuk in 2006.  She is raced by Larneuk owner Nev Murdoch who has built up a strong roster at the Euroa based nursery.  Tsigane stands alongside Legion (Redoute’s Choice), O’Lonhro (Lonhro) and Bramshaw (Encosta de Lago).

Tsigane (Fr) won six races from 1200 to 1600 metres and was a dual stakes winner at Del Mar and Santa Anita on turf.  He is bred on the same Danzig – Riverman cross as Makybe Diva, Erhaab and Anabaa Blue.

He is a French bred son of Anabaa whose G1 winners include Goldikova (USA Breeders’ Cup Mile x 3), Rouvres (Prix Jean Prat), Amonita (Prix Marcel Boussac) and Anabaa Blue (French Derby) who is now a leading stallion in France.

His Australian bred G1 winners include Yell (MRC C F Orr Stakes, Futurity Stakes & MVRC Australia Stakes), Virage De Fortune (QTC Sires’ Produce Stakes & MVRC Australia Stakes), Headturner (AJC Australian Derby), Imananabaa (NZ Railway Handicap) and Teranaba (AJC Spring Champion Stakes).

Anabaa shuttled between France and Australia from 1997 until his death at Haras du Quesnay in July 2009.  

Kiss My Ice is trained by Greg Eurell and is the first winner for Alpine Countess who was a Werribee winner for the Trescowthick family before retiring to stud.  The mare has a 2yo colt by Tsigane, a yearling colt by Bramshaw and a filly foaled in September by Bramshaw.