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Group One performer Endean Rose has been sold and won't contest Saturday's Listed Marks Ewen& Associates Kaimai Stakes (2000m) at Matamata.

Rotorua trainer Iain Kennedy confirmed the Savabeel seven-year-old mare was sold to Australian interests on Thursday and they had requested she be withdrawn from Saturday's race.

Kennedy said the new owners had indicated Endean Rose could race in Australia in the autumn but the primary reason for her purchase was as a broodmare.

In 43 starts, Endean Rose won six races and was placed in a further 10, including in last year's Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings and Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.

"We never thought of her as an out-and-out champion but she's outdone herself," said Kennedy, who raced Endean Rose with Andrew Burton and Linda Hunt.

"We're happy with what we've achieved with her. It's a bittersweet thing selling her but sometimes it's just one of those things you have to do."

Kennedy will now turn his attention to Howbaddouwantit four-year-old mare Lady Shabeel, who contests Saturday's Valachi Downs 1600 at Matamata.

"We're very happy with her. She had a minor injury since she last raced but we've got on top of that and she's working the house down," Kennedy said.

"It's not a bad field on Saturday and it's a big field, so a lot of them we have to get around, but hopefully she can get there. She'll certainly be flying home late. We think a lot of her."