Iffraaj on the mark at Marseille

Darley shuttler Iffraaj cracked the 30 winner mark at Marseille on Friday and he’s right on track to break the first-season record in Europe.  His latest winner is the John Hammond trained colt Rudyard who scored a 1.5 length victory the Prix de Gardanne (1550m).

Former Chatswood Stud shuttler Invincible Spirit set the first-season record with 35 winners in 2006.  Darley sire Dubawi equalled that mark last year but one of his winners was subsequently disqualified after returning a positive swab.

Iffraaj (Zafonic) shuttles from Darley’s Kildangan Stud base in Ireland to Haunui Stud in New Zealand.  He was a dual G2 winner of the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood and Park Stakes at York.  He was also beaten a head when runner-up in the G1 July Cup at Newmarket.

Rudyard (2c Iffraaj – Caprarola by Rahy) is trained by Hammond for owner-breeder Cyril Humphris.  He was catalogued for the Arqana yearling sale in December 2009 but failed to make a 5,000 euros reserve!

Rudyard had been placed at Maisons-Laffitte and Deauville before breaking through on Friday.  He is the first foal of the Curragh winner Caprarola.  Second dam Grazia (Sharpo) was a Listed winner of the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury.  She is a half-sister to Champion G1 performer Halling (Diesis).

The 30 Iffraaf juveniles have won a total of 40 races in Europe.  Top of the list is unbeaten colt Wootton Bassett who scored for the fourth time in the Weatherbys Insurance Stakes at Doncaster on Thursday.  The sales linked event was worth 300,000 pounds (AUD 499,485).

Iffraaf is standing his third southern season at Haunui Farm at a $10,000 (+ gst) service fee.  His younger half-brother Makeynn (Dubai Destination) won his maiden at Wolverhampton on Friday night for Sheikh Mohammed.