Anabaa

As a two-year-old Anabaa was diagnosed as being a "wobbler", which delayed his appearance on the racecourse until late the following year.[4] Anabaa ran three times without success in the autumn of 1995. He was campaigned ambitiously, making his debut in a Listed race at Longchamp in September in which he finished fourth. He was then moved up to the highest level to finish sixth of the ten runners in the Group One Prix de la Forêt in October. On his final start he was dropped back down to Listed class and finished third in a three-way photo finish at Évry.[5]

In March 1996, Anabaa made his first appearance as a four-year-old when he won an 1100m Listed race at Évry by five lengths.[6] A month later over the same course and distance, he won another Listed race by seven lengths.[7]

His reputation was growing, and only three horses opposed him when he moved back up to Group class for the Prix de Saint-Georges at Longchamp in May. Freddie Head tracked the English-trained filly Millyant in the early stages before allowing Anabaa to move into the lead 400m from the finish. The colt quickly went clear and won his first Group race "very easily" by six lengths.[8] Three weeks later, Anabaa was sent to Deauville for the Prix du Gros Chêne for which he was made 3/10 favourite. The race reflected the betting as Anabaa moved up to take the lead 200m out and recorded an "impressive" two length win.[9]

The July Cup over six furlongs at Newmarket seemed likely to provide Anabaa with his first real test of the season. Apart from the reigning Champion Sprinter Hever Golf Rose, the field included the highly regarded English colts Pivotal and Mind Games, who had finished first and second in the King's Stand Stakes. In a change of tactics, Head sent Anabaa into the lead from the start, and the colt was never headed. In the final furlong, he ran on strongly to win by one and three quarter lengths from Lucayan Prince.[10] In August Anabaa returned to Deauville for the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest, for which he started at odds of 1/2 in a field of nine. On this occasion, the colt was held up by Freddie Head before taking the lead 200m out and winning "comfortably" by a length and a half from Miesque's Son.[11]

In October, Anabaa started at odds of 3/10 for the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp, where he was under pressure after 400m. He then responded to pass the English-trained filly Eveningperformance and take the lead inside the last 200m, only to be caught in the closing strides and beaten a neck by his stable companion Kistena.[12]