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| Staff Writer |
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Following his lucrative victory in the Saudi National Bank 1351 Turf Sprint, Annaf may be poised to earn further riches in the Middle East.
The 5YO enjoyed a productive season last year, frequently participating in top-tier sprints and holding his own despite often starting as an outsider.
In the Duke of York Stakes, he finished fourth, narrowly missing out by two and three-quarter lengths at odds of 50-1. Similarly, in the prestigious Group One King’s Stand at Royal Ascot, he secured third place, again narrowly defeated by the same margin at 50-1 odds.
Even in races where he didn't clinch victory, such as the Hackwood, the Hopeful Stakes, and the Sprint Cup, he never trailed by more than three and a half lengths when racing over six furlongs.
At Doncaster, he shifted back half a furlong in the Portland Stakes and, despite carrying top weight, secured his first turf season victory. This triumph was followed by another win in the Group Three Bengough Stakes at Ascot in October.
Annaf commenced his seasonal campaign at Lingfield in early February, finishing second in the Listed Kachy Stakes behind Clive Cox’s Diligent Harry, who later triumphed in the Hever Sprint Stakes at Southwell.
In the Saudi Turf Sprint, Annaf faced stiff competition, including reigning champion Bathrat Leon from Japan, Kieran Cotter’s speedy filly Matilda Picotte, and Tim Easterby’s British Champions Sprint Stakes winner Art Power.
Under the astute guidance of jockey Rossa Ryan, starting from stall 12, Annaf navigated the course adeptly, making gains along the inside rail as others faltered. As the race progressed, Annaf surged ahead, ultimately crossing the finish line three-quarters of a length in front of Japan’s La La Christine, securing nearly US$12,66,985.00 in prize money.
Appleby said: “He’s all good, he’s come out of the race fine.
“He did it really well, we were quite surprised at the price of him to be honest.
“He ran really well in the Kachy Stakes, we gave him a prep run in that and he went very well.
“The winner of that (Diligent Harry) came out and won the Listed race at Southwell, so the form has really stacked up.
“He’s always run well in good quality races and he’s always been thereabouts.”
A visit to Japan was mentioned in the immediate aftermath of the Saudi success, but connections have decided that the meeting comes too soon and he will instead return to the Middle East for the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night.
“He’ll more than likely go out to Dubai on World Cup night, he was invited to Japan, but we’ve decided not to go there as the race might come too soon for him and there’s a lot of travelling as well,” Appleby said.
“He’ll come home and then probably about a week before the race, he’ll fly out to Dubai.
“Then I imagine then it’ll be Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood, all the big meetings.”
Appleby’s other sprint star is the rapid Big Evs, winner of the Windsor Castle, Molecomb, Flying Childers and then the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint last year.
The colt has returned to training after his winter break and is progressing well as connections ponder where to begin his three-year-old campaign.
“He’s good, he’s wintered really well and he’s in training,” Appleby said.
“We’ve not really made our plans yet with him, but he’s on the go so he’ll run early season, we just don’t know where yet.”