Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s homebred mare Ghaanati added to her already considerable value when opening her stakes account in Saturday’s Listed Premier Signs Doveton Stakes at Caulfield.
Ridden by Jamie Kah for Peter and Paul Snowden, the 4-year-old daughter of Deep Impact (JPN) clung to a gallant short-neck success over the fast-finishing Redente gelding Our Redente, with a short-half-head back to the Shalaa (IRE) gelding Semillion in third.
Coming off a second to Rose Quartz in the Group III How Now Stakes, Ghaanati advances her record to three wins and three seconds from 11 starts with earnings of $309,175.
Foaled and raised at Segenhoe, Ghaanati is a half-sister to Group 1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner and successful sire Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry) and Listed MRC Gothic Stakes winner Al Aneed (More Than Ready).
“Being a half-sister to Pride Of Dubai we always thought she had the ability to do it,” Peter Snowden said.
“We’ve had a few issues with her along the way, mainly barrier issues and Julien Welsh was a big hand in that, getting her back right and thanks to him she’s where she is now.
“I think she handled the conditions really well today, that’s the first time she’s been on a heavy track and she handled it. The breed get through it as well but she’s always shown good class, always had this sort of a win in her and probably a little bit better again but great to see her do it, she’s very lightly raced and you’d like to think there’s more to come from her.
“I think there’s a lot of upside. That issue with the barriers was a big problem with her but she’s great there, she was in there for a long time today and never turned a hair so we don’t have to worry about that problem any more. She’s definitely got talent, only very lightly raced and you’d have to say there’s more to come from her just on her pedigree, the size and strength of her, she keeps getting bigger and stronger each time she comes in so I think there’s more to come from her.
“It (Oakleigh Plate) might sound a little bit rich but no harm in aiming high, and I’m sure there’s more black type in her, where it is I’m not sure but she’s a quality filly who deserved that today.”
Her dam Al Anood (Danehill) is a half-sister to Group 1 Prix de Diane winner Rafha, the dam of Invincible Spirit.
Snowden Racing / William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased an American Pharoah (USA) colt from Al Anood for $200,000, from the by Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He has been named Vaafee.
Also the dam of Enaad (High Chaparral), the Champion Stayer in South Africa in 2015-16, Al Anood foaled a Wootton Bassett (GB) filly on September 6.
Ghaanati is the 201st stakes-winner for Shadai Stallion Station’s legendry Deep Impact (JPN) who died in 2019.
