Woburn Farm’s Anamoe colt looks the goods

Cover image courtesy of Woburn Farm

The experienced Adrian Stanley runs Woburn Farm who returns to Sydney with a draft of six 2-year-olds for next week’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale. Well known at the New Zealand breeze up sale, Woburn Farm tested the waters in Australia with tiny drafts at Inglis in 2022 and 2024. They took the plunge properly last year with a draft of nine horses and are back in 2026 with six colts.

Woburn Farm sale graduates have fared particularly well in Asia, such as the Hong Kong-based four-time Group 1-winning sprinter Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), who was crowned Champion Sprinter the year before Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) began his domination. Group 2-placed Packing Hermod (Rubick) is another showing consistent talent in the region.

Stanley boasts a great track record in the pin-hooking department, his keen eye for a good type seeing him purchase and sell on the stakes winner Lincoln’s Kruz (Kuroshio), G1 Sistema Stakes-placed Landlock (Merchant Navy) and the multiple city winners (in Australia and Asia) Master Montaro (Toronado {Ire}) and Sousui (Mikki Isle {Jpn}).

Each of the six colts in this draft was all sourced as yearlings at various sales in Australia and specifically targeted to return to this sale in Sydney. All six of them breezed up at Taupo in New Zealand on a soft 6 surface.

“All these horses were brought and then came back to New Zealand to grow out, just like we do for the New Zealand Sale. It’s the same system for both drafts, there’s no difference in the way we approach each draft,” Woburn Farm’s Adrian Stanley said.

“These horses have never been pushed. They've been broken in here at the farm or with Steven Cole, they've had a faultless preparation, and they're just doing it all naturally.”

These horses are going to be seasoned travellers before they reach the sale ring and that type of experience should hold them in good stead once they join a racing stable.

“I've got three coming on Thursday and then the other three on Sunday. They’ll get a few days off with the feed thrown into them. We did the final photos and videos today (Wednesday), so they should be online by Friday.”

Lot 83 – Anamoe x Really Discreet (Helmet) (chestnut colt)

Since Horse Of The Year and nine-time Group 1 winner Anamoe retired to stud, there’s been a buzz about him. His yearlings sold exceptionally well, and he began his stud career last Saturday with a runner in each of the three juvenile stakes races.

This colt breezed up in 10.72s alongside Lot 201.

“We think he’s exceptional. Just awesome. It's more his nature, his brain, just copes with anything, and loves his work. He's untapped as well, he could be the goods. I don't think I've had a horse like him, that breezed up like that,” Stanley said.

“This guy loves his work and he’s just a natural from day one, so balanced.”

He is the third foal of Listed Nitschke Stakes-placed Really Discreet (Helmet) who won five races, one as a juvenile at Caulfield, as well as running fourth in the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Her first foal, Alphard, by Anamoe’s sire Street Boss (USA), is a winner, and her second foal 3-year-old filly Low Key (Pinatubo {USA}) won at Rosehill at the end of September to give the mare a two from two record at the track.

This is a current family with Really Discreet’s half-sister Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot {GB}) placing twice at group level this spring, to go with her G2 Edward Manifold Stakes victory last season.

The Anamoe colt’s second dam is G1 Australasian Oaks victrix Maybe Discreet (Shamardal {USA}) who is a half-sister to G3 Spring Stakes winner Just Discreet (Exceed And Excel).

Lot 128 – Toronado (Ire) x Spin Me A Kiss (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) (brown colt)

Toronado (Ire) topped this sale last year with Tron Bolt who went on to win the G1 JJ Atkins Plate at the end of his juvenile season. The sire of seven Group 1 winners, five of those in Australia, has an exceptional record in Hong Kong headlined by Group 1 winner Victor The Winner. He finished last year’s Hong Kong season in fourth on the Sires’ Premiership table with Little Paradise as his biggest earner for the campaign.

“He's a lovely 3-year-old type of Toronado. He’s got a good frame, good walk, well balanced, and very athletic. He's showing a lot,” Stanley said.

“He’s got a lovely big loose action on him.”

Lot 128 breezed up in 10.51s. He is the third foal of stakes placed winner of four races Spin Me A Kiss (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) whose first foal Brazen Diva (Brazen Beau) won her maiden this month.

This colt’s second dam, River Kiss (USA) (Awesome Gambler {USA}) won twice and placed in the G3 Del Mar Sorrento Stakes and two other Listed events. As well as Spin Me A Kiss, she also produced stakes placed Coco Kisses (USA) (Empire Way {USA}) and 12-time winner Time For Kisses (USA) (Time To Get Even {USA}).

Lot 140 – Stay Inside x Sweet Melody (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) (chestnut colt)

Stay Inside has a runner in the G1 The Everest from his first crop of 3-year-olds with the exciting filly Blue Door who comes off a last start G3 Heritage Stakes win. From his first crop, the G1 Golden Slipper winner has four stakes winners including seven figure yearling Incognito who won the G3 Breeders’ Plate on debut last season.

“He's a lovely big Stay Inside, more of a 3-year-old type, and he's got a lovely big action on him as well,” Stanley said.

Lot 140 breezed up in 10.59s. A half-brother to Listed Clare Lindop Stakes-placed Swiftie Harriet (Exceedance), Lot 140 is the fourth foal for the versatile Sweet Melody (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who won from 1200 metres to 2400 metres.

Sweet Melody’s other runner, Capital Legend (Capitalist) ran fourth in the G3 Carbine Club Stakes before heading to Hong Kong where he is a winner. This is the family of Group 1 winners and young sires Ozzmosis and Griff.

Lot 201 – Street Boss (USA) x Barangaready (More Than Ready {USA})

Street Boss (USA) keeps defying his age and churning out brilliant horses. Tempted is going to have another crack at Ka Ying Rising in the G1 The Everest after running second to him last year, and she’s coming off a last start win. Last year’s dual Group 1 winning sprinter Tentyris has just been retired to stud, and most punters would agree that Anamoe is short odds to win Champion First Season Sire this season.

“He's a striking animal. He breezed up with the Anamoe and he's showing a lot of ability at home. He’s a lovely looking horse, good pedigree, and is the only Street Boss in the sale as well, so, he's one to have a look at. He's shown a good ability,” Stanley said.

Lot 201 breezed up in 10.77s. He is the second foal of winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Barangaready, a half-sister to dual Listed winner Our Crown Mistress (Star Witness) who is the dam of G2 Run To The Roses-placed Moravia (Snitzel).

His second dam, Barangaroo (Fastnet Rock) brings in the Danehill (USA) line which has crossed so well with Street Boss. This is the family of Group 1 winners Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun), Racing To Win (Encosta De Lago) and young sire Celestial Legend.

Lot 246 – Zousain x Cotillion (Your Song) (bay colt)

Zousain is putting together a solid record in the middle of the market with five stakes winners. He has the exciting Salon S in Hong Kong. It’s that market which Stanley thinks this colt will suit well.

“He’s a perfect Hong Kong Griffin type of horse,” Stanley said.

“He breezed up very well. He's a strong physical early running type of horse. He can really gallop, a strong physical type.”

He breezed up in 10.58 and is out of the tough race mare Cotillion (Your Song) who won six times including once as a 2-year-old. Her first two foals are unraced, with her 3-year-old gelding Debut Author (Written By) a recent trial participant.

Toughness runs in the family with Cotillion being a half-sister to seven-time winner and G3 Lord Reims Stakes and G3 Launceston Cup winner Bondeiger (War Pass {USA}) and juvenile winner Certitude (Not A Single Doubt) who ran fourth at Listed level and counts 14-time winner Parko (Smart Missile) among her progeny.

This colt’s third dam is G1 South Australian Oaks victrix Derobe (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}) and is related to dual Group 1 winner Pompeii Ruler (Genuine {Jpn}).

Lot 316 – Tassort x Imsouane (Lonhro) (black colt)

A striking black colt like his damsire Lonhro, Lot 316 is bred on the Tassort/Lonhro cross that has produced Listed Cinderella Stakes-placed Ad Astra and three-time winner Astapor, who ran fourth in the G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes behind Storm Boy. There are just three runners bred on this cross so far.

“He's a strong physical and a lovely coloured proper horse,” Stanley said.

Lot 316 breezed in 10.53s.

He is the third foal of winning mare Imsouane (Lonhro) who is a daughter of G3 Dark Jewel Classic winner Seaside (Redoute’s Choice) who is the dam of last season’s G3 David Coles AM Stakes-placed Portarlington (I Am Immortal).

This colt’s second, third and fourth dams are all stakes winners. His third dam Living Spirit (Hennessey {USA}) won all her three races at two including the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes, while fourth dam Livelihood (Rory’s Jester) was a Listed winning juvenile.