Brilliant Stakes Win for Banaadeer

A scintillating debut winner last week in South Africa, blue-blooded More Than Ready (USA) colt Banaadeer confirmed that potential on Saturday at Turffontein with his first stakes-win.

Trained by Mike de Kock for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, Banaadeer raced away to win the Listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000 metres by three and a quarter lengths at his second start .

Banaadeer was one of a large number of yearlings bought by Shadwell at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year, snapped up for $700,000 from the draft of Widden Stud.

He was the most expensive yearling by More Than Ready sold at that sale and the most expensive yearling by his sire for 2013.

Foaled and raised at Widden Stud for long-time client Robert Anderson, Banaadeer is a half-brother to HK stakes-winner Admiration and is the third winner from stakes-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Provence, a three-quarter sister to HK International Sprint winner Inspiration and stakes-winner Lucky Unicorn.

Provence has not had a foal since Banaadeer, but was covered again by More Than Ready last spring.

Widden Stud will present another stunning draft for the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.