This year’s freshmen sires’ results in Europe have been a highlight for Haunui Farm stallion Iffraaj (GB).  The Darley shuttler has sired 26 individual winners at a 50% winners-to-runners strike rate.

His first crop are also gaining a reputation for winning at the first time of asking.  From his 26 winners, 10 have won on debut.  Of the remaining 16 winners, 11 won at their second start and the rest won at either start three or four.

“It’s interesting because by all accounts they are not true 2YO types and Iffraaj himself did not win until the September of his two-year-old season,” Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty said.  “Jimmy Hyland, the Managing Director of Kildangan Stud in Ireland, told me the Iffraajs are big scopey horses with laid back temperaments.

“Jimmy expected the Iffraaj youngsters to improve and progress during the season and this is exactly what has happened.  Ideally they will be better suited when they step out over a little more ground to races that are between 1400m to 1600m.”

The handsome son of Zafonic covered a first southern hemisphere book that boasted a 34% count of either stakes winners, performers or stakes producing dams.

The resultant yearlings will be available at the 2011 majors and, if they are anything like their European counterparts, they will be keenly sought after.  The reports from the northern hemisphere trainers are that the Iffraajs are easy to train, love their work and are pretty uncomplicated overall.  

In keeping with his early accomplishment, Iffraaj has been in hot demand at Haunui Farm this season.  There has been a huge response and his book has been closed for 2010.  He was advertised at a $10,000 (+ gst) fee this season.