The only filly in the race, the Doug Harrison-trained Sanabreanna achieved more than her sire and dam combined when she came from the tail of the field to run down the favourite Massimo in Saturday’s Listed Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic at Ascot.
With Joseph Azzopardi in the saddle, Sanabreanna defeated Massimo (Sessions) by half a length with Laverrod (Toronado) a length back in third.
It was the first win for Sanabreanna since breaking her maiden at Ascot in February, although she placed in the Group II Champion Fillies Stakes and Listed Burgess Queen Stakes at her last two starts.
“She had the form on the board and was right down in the weights, she looked the winner to me,” Azzopardi said.
“I would have liked to have been a little bit closer but they were running along, she was off the bit before the corner, she has the habit of doing that.
“I had to give her a couple before the bend and she let down really well.”
Sanabreanna’s sire Red Hot Choice (Redoute’s Choice) won one race, at Pinjarra over 1200m, in an eight-start career. He also ran second at Listed level in the Aquanita Stakes (1800m) and WA St Leger (2100m) while Sanabreanna’s dam, the Scenic mare Sanabresa, was unplaced in three starts.
But she has been more productive at stud, with seven winners from her nine to race. Besides Sanabreanna she is the dam of the stakes-placed Passion Cantata (Oratorio) the winner of six eaces and over $300,000.
Sanabreanna becomes the first stakes-winner for Red Hot Choice who died in 2017 after covering five small books of mares. Sanabreanna comes from his penultimate crop of 17 live foals, which was his busiest season.
