Anabaa dies after colic surgery

Haras du Quesnay's leading sire ANABAA (Danzig) died of acute peritonitis

after colic surgery Monday, according to a press release from the French

nursery. He was 17. Bred by Gainsborough Farm, the son of Group 1 winner

Balbonella (Fr) (Gay Mecene) was suspected to be a wobbler as a juvenile and was

reportedly under consideration to be euthanized, but was turned over to Alec

Head and eventually recovered.

"As a two-year-old he pinched his spine when galloping on wet grass at

Chantilly," Criquette Head-Maarek, who trained Anabaa during his racing career,

told Racing Post. "When the vets looked at him, they said he was a

wobbler and that we should put him down, which made me very angry. I asked Papa

to take him to the stud to increase his chance of recovery and, after that,

Sheikh Maktoum kindly gave him to Papa."

The dark bay had a quiet campaign at three in 1995, finishing third in the

Prix Contessina while winning twice in six starts, before emerging as a star

sprinter at four. Anabaa captured five of six outings in 1996, including the

July Cup (Eng-G1), Prix Maurice de Gheest (Fr-G1), Prix du Gros Chene (Fr-G1)

and Prix de Saint-Georges (Fr-G3), and finished second in the Prix de l'Abbaye

de Longchamp (Fr-G1).

"He was a fantastic horse and gave success and pleasure to me as his trainer,

Papa as his owner and Freddy (Head) as his jockey," Head-Maarek added. "He was a

very good sprinter and had a lot of quality plus a lovely disposition. He was a

fantastic racehorse, a very good stallion and also an excellent broodmare sire."

Anabaa retired with a record of 13-8-2-1 and earnings of $481,879 and quickly

established himself as a desirable stallion. After siring Prix du Jockey-Club

(Fr-G1) hero Anabaa Blue and Prix Marcel Boussac (Fr-G1) winner Amonita (GB) in

his first crop, he was represented by six Group 1 winners during his Southern

Hemisphere stints. Among his top-level winners Down Under was Virage de Fortune,

who later sold for a then-record A$3.4 million when sold as a racing/broodmare

prospect in 2007. The unquestioned star of his 2005 crop was Goldikova (Ire),

who captured the Prix Rothschild (Fr-G1) and Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1)

before posting a brilliant win in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Santa

Anita.

Anabaa stood the 2007 breeding season at Castleton Lyons in Kentucky,

covering 51 mares, before returning to Haras du Quesnay. He had 85 mares this

past spring, including Goldikova's dam Born Gold (Blushing Groom [Fr]) and Marie

Rheinberg (Surako), whose son Le Havre landed this year's Prix du Jockey-Club

(Fr-G1). Anabaa, a half-brother to Group 1 winner Always Loyal (Zilzal) and

Group 3 winner Key of Luck (Chief's Crown), has been represented by 66

black-type winners (10 percent of foals) to date.