The sons and daughters of Militarize (NZ) are going to be rare collector’s items as they grow up, and Mark Stevens of Edgar Park in West Gippsland, Victoria, is pleased to announce that he has one of them; a week ago last Sunday, Nathaniel (Ire) mare Anyana (GB) delivered a filly by the three-time Group 1 winner after going in foal to him on a September 3 cover.
The winner of the G1 Golden Rose, G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes, and G1 Champagne Stakes, Militarize covered 59 mares in his first season at Newgate Farm before it was discovered that he struggled with fertility. He was ultimately gelded and returned to the stables of Chris Waller, but a handful of mares struck lucky to bear his first and only foals.
An absolute ripper
Born a week ago on August 19 and nicknamed ‘Mili the filly’, Anyana’s sixth foal has done nothing but impress the Edgar Park team so far.
“She was a ripper,” Stevens said. “She was up and on her feet in 10 minutes, and she's got this striking white blaze that you just can't help but fall in love with.
“She's very correct. She's got good strength, good hocks. She's short-backed with a nice shoulder, great hip and hind leg, and she's probably one of the better foals we've ever had. We’re pretty happy.”
Militarize (NZ) x Anyana (GB) filly | Born at Edgar Park
Militarize had, for lack of a better phrase, ticked all the boxes of what Stevens looked for in a match for Anyana, whom Stevens had bought for $40,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare sale from Vinery Stud. One of the most important matches for him was complementing her size and scope.
“The mare is a good size Nathaniel mare,” Stevens said. “And we just wanted to get the right size foal. The Dundeel sire produces a smaller style of horse, and Militarize obviously was a three-time Group 1 winner, so I was quite happy to chip into that.”
Deep bloodlines
“I also like to go back to the European bloodlines through the damline," Stevens said. "Militarize is out of a Dubawi mare, so we liked the Dubawi cross over Nathaniel or Galileo line mares. We’re pretty happy with how it has worked.”
Nathaniel, a son of Galileo (Ire), is early in his broodmare career, but his daughters have produced 87 winners and nine stakes winners so far, including Godolphin’s Group 1-winning Tribalist (GB) (Farhh {GB}) and Group 2-winning, Group 1-placed Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
Anyana (GB) with her Militarize (NZ) filly foal at foot | Image supplied
“She’s (Anyana) very well-related,” Stevens said. “She’s from a stout German family that has Aga Khan bloodlines, and I thought based on her type and her pedigree, she would leave us a nice type.
"We’ve tried to go for middle distance horses for her, so Militarize was pretty exciting for us. It was a frustrating time for everyone, but we felt very fortunate to have one in foal to him.”
Anyana is a half-sister to Listed-winning Amare (GB) (Hernando {Fr}), and a granddaughter of Group 3-winning German racemare Aragosta (Ger) (Nebos {Ger}), from whom descends seven stakes winners and another seven stakes performers. Champion Older Female in German Amorella (Ger) (Nathaniel {Ire}) is out of a Dubawi-sired descendant of hers - representing 'Mili's cross in the other direction.
Anyana will visit Rosemont Stud’s new shuttle stallion Henry Longfellow (Ire) this spring.
