Anapurna could run final race on Champions Day before broodmare duties beckon

Anapurna could have one last racecourse hurrah before retirement after the Classic winner returned to her imperious best in the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu at Longchamp on Saturday.

This season's Oaks winner will not race as a four-year-old, but she could take up an engagement in the Group 1 Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on October 19 before taking up broodmare duties.

Following victory at Longchamp, Helena Ellingsen, sister to Meon Valley Stud owner Mark Weinfeld, indicated the filly could have raced for the final time with her owner keen to bring her back to stud.

Speaking to Great British Racing, owner-breeder Weinfeld said: "We absolutely plan to keep Anapurna and will retire her at the end of this year. We have an entry for Champions Day and will see how she comes out of this race before we decide whether or not to go there.

"Dash To The Top [Anapurna's dam] has been very tricky to breed, so we don't have a foal at foot. She's not in foal and she doesn't have a yearling or a two-year-old, but we live in hope of getting another one."

Once-raced as a juvenile, the daughter of Frankel was an impressive six-length winner of Lingfield's Oaks Trial in May before going on to Classic success at Epsom 20 days later.

Saturday's success represented a welcome return to form for the John Gosden-trained filly after disappointing in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in September.

Anapurna is a general 6-1 shot for the Fillies & Mares, in a market headed by Irish Oaks and Prix Vermeille victor Star Catcher at 5-2.

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