Horse Profile: Anshoda

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Scouting Report

(Editor's note: Originally published in the 2024 BRISnet Breeders' Cup International Report)

Bargain-basement (about $6,600) Tattersalls Guineas Breeze Up purchase has turned into an overachiever for trainer David Loughnane, who almost upset the 2021 Juvenile Turf Sprint with Go Bears Go. Later acquired privately by Team Valor and Gary Barber, Anshoda earned her way in via the “Win and You’re In” Prestige (G3).

Anshoda is by the Invincible Spirit stallion Inns of Court, a Group 2-winning sprinter for Godolphin who just missed in a pair of Group 1s. She’s out of a half-sister (by Unfuwain) to Gutaifan, himself a high-class juvenile now better known for siring Canadian Horse of the Year Fev Rover.

Ignored at 33-1 on debut at Lingfield, Anshoda traveled well, if greenly, behind. She picked up in time to score by a neck, but it was a pretty weak turf maiden.

Anshoda accordingly was dismissed as the 66-1 longest shot on the board in the listed Star S. at Sandown. She again proved the market wrong with a rallying second on the class hike. Anchored at the rear early, Anshoda was driven along to improve on the inside and did her best work up the rising ground. 

That gives her form ties with Lake Victoria and Fiery Lucy. Star third-placer Flaming Stone went on to place fourth to Lake Victoria in the Sweet Solera, while Star fourth Alla Stella was subsequently in the photo with Fiery Lucy for the minors in the Newtownanner Stud. 

Anshoda was then scooped up by her new connections and made her first start in Barber’s silks in the Aug. 24 Prestige at Goodwood. Given more respect as a 4-1 chance, she was reserved in touch in midpack, urged along, and kept on with admirable resolve to prevail in a war of attrition on soft ground. 

The Prestige likewise furnishes collateral form. Runner-up Duty First was later third to Bubbling in the Rockfel (G2). Merrily, the troubled third in the Prestige, eventually upset the Oh So Sharp (G3) (after an intervening fifth to Heavens Gate in the Weld Park). 

Yet it must also be noted that a key Prestige storyline involved who wasn’t there. Adverse conditions prompted several scratches, most notably the well-fancied Tabiti and Formal.

Anshoda regressed to sixth next time out in the Sept. 12 May Hill (G2), but with a couple of valid excuses. Making a relatively quick turnaround from a tough effort in the Prestige, she surprisingly changed tactics and found herself on the early lead. 

The May Hill has turned out to be a key race. The top two, Desert Flower and January, also ran one-two in the Fillies’ Mile (G1). Third-placer Flight filled the same spot in the Oh So Sharp, and May Hill also-ran Serving with Style rebounded with a second in the Rockfel. 

Anshoda will get a jockey switch to Joel Rosario, with a view to employing the patient tactics that have served her well. The concern is that a two-turn mile around a tight track like Del Mar could be too sharp for her. Anshoda’s pattern so far has been to hit a flat spot before building up momentum; she stays on rather than accelerating on a dime.