Miss Andretti put Ihtiram on the map as a Group 1 stallion and now he’s gaining a reputation as much more than a one-horse sire.
Ihtiram (Ire) is based at Kent Johnston’s Taunton Vale in WA with Bearcat and Numerous Times. He relocated there after the death of Wayandah Stud owner Ray Cochrane last year.
The majority of his winners are in WA although he bobbed up with an interstate result last Saturday when Taffy scored at Ipswich.
Taffy (2g Ihtiram-Heaven’s Reply by Staroka) was only having his second start at Ipswich but ran a class record time of 1.21.85s for 1350m. He went for $6,000 at the 2008 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale and was then on-sold by Cayley Thoroughbreds to Linden Hughes for $7,500 at the 2008 Gold Coast HIT Sale.
Spekkey (3f Ihtiram-Snow Key by Blalocks Bull) kept the momentum going at Pinjarra on Wednesday. He overcame a wide barrier to win by just under two lengths. She was bred by local trainer Greg Carige who prepared the year’s Bunbury Cup winner Wicklow Hills (Danewin).
Spekkey’s dam Snow Key has a filly foal by Waterford sire Mosayter and was served by Redoute’s Choice stallion Passenger last year.
Ihtiram’s smart galloper Mekong Miss completed a winning hat-trick at Ascot on April 29 and trainer David Harrison predicts a bright future for the mare.
“I stretched her out to 1400 metres and she did it easily,” Harrison said after the latest victory. “She has a lot of pace and class and is very exciting.”
Mekong Miss (4m Ihtiram-Balmerigia by Balmerino) is a younger half-sister to Balgold (Fimiston) who won 8 races in South Australia and NSW.
Her 2yo brother Redhage was runner-up to Our Ol’ Fella on debut at Pinjarra on May 6 and he won’t be long in winning for the Grant Williams stable.
Their dam Balmerigia foaled another filly by Ihtiram last year.
Meanwhile, Miss Andretti is agisting at Tooloogan Vale Farm in NSW and is carrying her first foal to Exceed And Excel.
Ultra Tune owner Sean Buckley bought 75% of Miss Andretti from WA owner-trainer David Mueller in March 2006.
Unfortunately, a rift split the partnership after the mare was retired. Buckley and Mueller are not on speaking terms but the year-long dispute could be resolved in the short term.