Champion Kiwi filly Anabandana looks to be in for a lucrative campaign after thrashing her rivals in the G3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings on Saturday.

Racing for the first time since back to back G1 wins earlier in the year, Anabandana led for much of the race and accelerated away from her rivals when asked by rider Opie Bosson.

Anabandana confirmed her status as New Zealand’s Champion 2YO last season with G1 victories in the Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie and Manawatu Sires’ Produce at Awapuni.

Anabandana (3f Anabaa – Great Notice by Nureyev) was purchased by leading NZ based bloodstock agent Marcus Corban for $26,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions National weanling sale.  Plucked from the draft of her breeder, Reavill Farm, Anabandana was purchased on behalf of Hamilton based client Christopher Grace.

Not surprisingly Grace was thrilled with the performance of his star galloper and predicted bigger and better things over the coming weeks.  “We weren’t overly confident,” Grace said.  “It was her first race back and she’s got a lot of improvement in her.”

Anabandana is one of five winners from the top producing Nureyev mare Great Notice.  Her other progeny include the recent Sydney stakes winner Gybe and fellow Sydney winners Namsarai and Forthwith.

Great Notice is a sister to the dam of King’s Rose, now in the stables of Peter Moody and a winner of the G2 Memsie Stakes and Stocks Stakes at her two Australian runs this spring.

The Gold Trail Stakes was the first-leg of the 2011-12 NZ Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series.

Previous NZB Series winners include Katie Lee (Pins), Daffodil (No Excuse Needed), Insouciant (Keeper), Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago), Justa Tad (Istidaad) and her close relation King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice).