New Winner for Blue Hen

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday May 20

Blue hen Al Anood has called it a day at age 21 and was retired from stud duties earlier this year, but she added a new winner to her tally on Tuesday at Kilmore and with two precious fillies born in 2023 and 2024 her legacy remains a work in progress.

Vaafee wins at Kilmore - image Jay Town/ Racing Photos

Three year-old American Pharoah (USA) gelding Vaafee broke his maiden for the David and Coral Feek stable over 1450m with a tenacious effort that saw him score by a head.

Originally a $200,000 Inglis Easter purchase from Segenhoe for Snowden Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA), he was not up to scratch for a Sydney metro stable and found himself on Inglis Digital last year where he was bought for $22,500.

With two placings and a win from four starts for his new connections, Vaafee has already won back his purchase price.

Bred by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa, Vaafee is a half-brother to dual Group I winning sire Pride of Dubai, Champion South African Stayer and Group II winner Enaad and stakes-winners Al Aneed and Ghaanati.

He is the eighth winner from nine foals to race from stakes-placed Danehill mare Al Anood, a half-sister to Group I French Oaks winner Rafha, best known as the dam of champion sire Invincible Spirit.

Advertisement

Al Anood’s dam Eljazzi has spawned an incredible dynasty of Group winners that includes 2020 Champion European 3YO Mishriff, 2019 Champion US Turf Mare Uni, 2019 Champion European 2YO Colt Pinatubo and interestingly last Saturday’s super exciting import Sir Delius (IRE), who is being aimed towards the Melbourne Cup.

While Al Anood is looking to retirement after producing her final two foals, a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) and a weanling filly by Home Affairs, it’s all just beginning for her blue-blood daughter Ghanaati.

Al Anood was sent to the Northern Hemisphere in 2016 to be mated with leading sires up there and produced two fillies in a row by Dubawi before being returned to Australia in foal to Japanese legend Deep Impact with Ghanaati the result of that mating.

Ghaanati is at the beginning of her stud career - image Grant Courtney

A multiple Group placed stakes-winner, Ghanaati was retained to race and went to stud last spring with Zoustar her chosen partner…. That’s going to be a foal to look forward to!

Another daughter of Al Anood that was retained and retired to stud last year is Jawharat Dubai (Lonhro) and she is due to foal to Shinzo.

Advertisment

Race Result - Bet365 Odds Drift Protect Mdn Plate 1450m

Kilmore Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:29.80
1
Vaafee
- 3g American Pharoah (USA) x Al Anood (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: David & Coral Feek Rdr: Neil Farley 59.5
2
0.2
High Tempo
- 4m Unusual Suspect (USA) x Hot Tempo (NZ) (Per Incanto (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Celine Gaudray 57.5
3
1.7
Ryanman
- 3g Highland Reel (IRE) x Kimiko (AUS) (Keep The Faith (AUS))
Tnr: M & L Cerchi Rdr: Ms A Herrmann 59.5
4
2.7
Swing Low
- 3f Alabama Express (AUS) x November (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ))
Tnr: Ms L Tolson & Ms L Proctor Rdr: Matthew Cartwright 57.5
5
9.7
Delphian
- 4g Overshare (AUS) x Red Maple (NZ) (Redwood (GB))
Tnr: Luke Oliver Rdr: D Moor 59.5
6
11.7
Inarticulate
- 3g Grunt (NZ) x Santa Ana (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Saab Hasan Rdr: C Quilty 59.5
7
15.2
Dubai Countess
- 3f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x Count Your Fingers (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: E J Walsh 57.5
More Reading...
Swettenham Stud Delighted with Lofty Strike Foals
Swettenham Stud are delighted with the growing buzz of excitement surrounding the first foals for young gun sire Lofty Strike.
420k NZ Ready to Run Purchase Looks the Goods
Progressive three-year-old Sulek notched his first victory when landing the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Plate (1400m) at Sandown on Wednesday for trainer Dominic Sutton.
Almanzor Mare Chasing More Black Type
Group Two performer Mary Shan will be in search of an elusive stakes victory when she heads south to Hawera on Saturday where she will contest the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Stud Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).
Godolphin’s Lonhro Filly Proficient On Debut
From the penultimate crop of Darley’s Champion Sire Lonhro, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained 3yo filly Proficient started the race favourite, winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Plate (1000m) at Sandown Hillside in a fighting finish. 
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Magic Trials at Caulfield Heath
Early season two-year-olds will step out this Thursday, 2 October, at the Caulfield Spring Trials presented by Magic Millions, with 800m 2YO heats following the opening trial for Group performers at 7:30am on the Caulfield Heath.
First Win for Storm Boy Half-Brother by Pierro
Progressive Pierro colt Shangri La Boy is a very different horse to his older half-brother Storm Boy and while that Group winning colt is covering his first book of mares at Coolmore this spring, this fellow is on his way with an impressive maiden win at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Kiwi Raider Pier Upbeat Ahead of Epsom
Co-trainer and part-owner Darryn Weatherley is taking a glass half full approach ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) after he came up with an awkward wide gate for Pier.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.