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"Group 1 winners Anisette and Anmaat headline the 16 stakes horses sired by Awtaad, a figure made more impressive by the fact he achieved it from limited numerical opportunities."

Derrinstown Stud sire Awtaad served a reminder of why he is widely regarded as brilliant value for breeders with a superb set of racecourse results at the weekend.

Anmaat notched the first leg of a transatlantic Pattern race double by bravely seeing off Certain Lad to win the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.

The six-year-old gelding has been expertly brought back to full fitness by trainer Owen Burrows, as he hadn’t run for 439 days since scoring at the highest level in the Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp in May 2023, due to a foot injury.

Anmaat has now won eight of his 13 starts, never finishing out of the top three in any race, typifying the class, consistency and courage his sire often transmits.

The Shadwell colour bearer was bred by Ringfort Stud out of the Halling mare African Moonlight, and is a half-brother to US Grade 3 winner Syntax, by former Derrinstown resident Haatef.

Anisette completed the Anglo-American double for Awtaad by winning the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar in impressive fashion for trainer Leonard Powell and owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

The four-year-old filly is, like Anmaat, remarkably consistent. She has now won seven of her 11 starts and hasn’t finished out of the places since running fourth at Kempton on debut for her original trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy.

Anisette, bred by the Morera Partnership, also typifies the value to be had with Awtaad’s stock, as she was bought by Avenue Bloodstock for just 26,000gns at the Tattersalls Somerville Yearling Sale. Her career earnings now stand at more than $900,000.

For good measure, Awtaad was also represented at the weekend by Listed Dick Hern Stakes third Naomi Lapaglia. It was the Richard Spencer-trained four-year-old filly’s third start in a stakes race in the space of just over a month, having earlier finished fourth in the Prix Goldikova at Deauville and third in the Valiant Stakes at Ascot.

Group 1 winners Anisette and Anmaat headline the 16 stakes horses sired by Awtaad, a figure made more impressive by the fact he achieved it from limited numerical opportunities.

The Irish 2,000 Guineas-winning son of Cape Cross was consequently widely recognised as a bargain proposition at his 2024 fee of €5,000, and he proved popular at Derrinstown Stud this season, covering 128 mares.