NEWS
Anabaa to return to France after one season in U.S.
Posted: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:11 AM
ANABAA
by Jeff Lowe
Anabaa, one of the leading sons of Danzig at stud, will return to the Head family’s Haras du Quesnay in France after standing a single season at Castleton Lyons in Lexington.
The Head family owns Haras du Quesnay in Deauville and stood Anabaa there from 1997 to 2006. He will stand for approximately $36,700 in 2008.
“Castleton was great, but as breeders we have to make sure that our French breeding industry is keeping up,” Martine Head said on Tuesday. “There is a huge competition between Ireland, England, and France, and we have to make sure that the French breeders have access to extremely good blood and confirmed sires. He is a really confirmed sire.”
Anabaa carried an advertised fee of $40,000 at Castleton Lyons in 2007. He will return to France upon completing the Southern Hemisphere season at Widden Stud in Australia.
Europe’s champion sprinter of 1996, Anabaa has sired 48 stakes winners among 392 winners from 597 starters who earned $32,372,892 through Monday. His leading progeny include champions Anabar and Yell, classic winners Anabaa Blue and Martillo, and American stakes winners Amonita (GB), Taikun (Aus), and Tsigane (Fr).
“We have been very privileged to stand this magnificent stallion for a year, but with the losses the French breeders have suffered this year, they are desperate for a proven sire of Group 1 winners, which Anabaa is,” said Stuart Fitzgibbon, commercial manager at Castleton Lyons. “We are disappointed to see him go, but we understand why they want him back.”
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
