The recent impressive victories recorded by Viva Acheeva (determined winner of his last two despite racing wide) and Sleek Acheeva (dominant on pace winner) put the under utilized but still promising young stallion Anacheeva in the spotlight as a good prospect for owner/breeders.
Despite never serving large books, the winner of Victoria's best stallion producing race - the Group One Caulfield Guineas - is quietly doing the job with his proud owner Geoff Guest noting that "he is showing that with the right mare he can produce a good horse."
Such as Guest's home-bred Ana Royale who was so impressive taking out the Gr.3 South Australian Oaks only to incur a career ending injury whilst being prepared for the spring carnival.
It was a blow for connections with Ana Royale's Group One placings in the Australasian Oaks and the Queensland Derby suggesting that she has a bright staying future.
But it is just a matter of time until Anacheeva produces another smart one which is why Riverbank Farm's Russell Osborne and Dr Caroline Duddy are delighted be welcoming him to the Benalla stud this spring.
"Anacheeva is a nice addition to complement our existing stallion roster as he brings the bloodlines of Anabaa and hails from a superior family," said Dr Duddy, adding that "at a reduced service fee of $3300 he provides great value for the owner breeder."
Amassing just short of $1million in stakes during a 12 start career that saw him four races, Anacheeva has his name on the Caulfield Guineas honour roll alongside the likes of Starspangledbanner, Lonhro, Show A Heart, Redoute's Choice, Grosvenor, Sovereign Red, Luskin Star, Vain, Ajax and Heroic.
Also the winner of the Gr.3 Guineas Prelude and the Listed Mitchell McKenzie Stakes, Anacheeva was a versatile galloper who showed up early winning a Sale 1200m maiden by three lengths at debut.
During that two-year-old season he showed signs of what was to come by finishing right in the thick of things when fourth in the Champagne Stakes. And the following season he would prove himself to be one of the state's best three-year-olds with his Caulfield victories as well as a gutsy third in the AJC Derby won by Shamrocker.
Form in strong company from 1200m to 2400m; the mark of a very good and adaptable horse.
"I think he is the best colt in the land and he has proved it here today," premier trainer Peter Moody declared on the day Anacheeva won the Caulfield Guineas, later noting that he had "immense ability."
"I feel I never got the best of the horse," he added.
Anacheeva is one of the 88 stakes winners sired by the outstanding Danzig stallion Anabaa, the July Cup winner who is one of the great shuttling success stories with Group One winners in both hemispheres - Goldikova, Anabar, Anabaa Blue, Plumania, Amonita, Style Vendome and Rouvres in the north and in the south Yell, Virage de Fortune, Anabandana, Le Drakkar, Imananabaa, Teranaba and Headturner.
The latter, winner of five races including the AJC Derby, is a full brother to Anacheeva; their dam being the wonderful Monroe Magic.
"Everything she throws is fantastic," Geoff Guest enthused, noting that the daughter of the influential Zabeel is also dam of the New Zealand Group One winner O'Marilyn and the Group Two galloper Kroner.
And of course Zabeel is an outstanding influence - the Australian Guineas winner earning multiple Australian and New Zealand Champion Sire titles with his 166 stakes winners, 47 of whom have been successful at Group One level.
He is further excelling as a broodmare sire, Zabeel's daughters to date producing 187 stakes winners including 38 Group One winners.
Anacheeva hails from a classy and consistent family that has been producing high quality performers for decades, its members including the Group winners Munson, Butterscotch, Golden Archer, Viennetta, Seize The Moment and Tasman Dancer.