With Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) due to touch down in New Zealand on Saturday, the news from the Northern Hemisphere couldn't be better with three more winners added to his tally over the last two days as well as another stakes performer to his credit.

Wednesday saw three winners for Iffraaj with filly Bay Of Fires (Ire) scoring her second win from four starts whilst two new winners in the form of Rafella (Ire) and Musharakaat (GB) were both impressive winning maiden events over 6f and 7f respectively, Musharakaat a two-and-a-quarter length winner on debut at Kempton.

Further afield, last start winner Zacynthus (Ire) (Iffraaj) became Iffraaj's second stakes performer when finishing third in the Listed Prix Roland de Chambure at Longchamp.

Yesterday Wootton Bassett (Ire) maintained his unbeaten record scoring by two lengths at Doncaster with Forjatt (Ire) (Iffraaj) completing an Iffraaj quinella in the 6f event with a further eleven lengths to the next closest runner!

With a total of 16 individual winners, Iffraaj still sits atop the European First Season Sires Table with two stakes performers to his credit as well.  Kildangan Stud Director Jimmy Hyland has reported that Iffraaj has more individual winners in his first crop at this stage than any other Darley stallion to date which is a very telling statistic.

"Iffraaj is definitely flying in the Northern Hemisphere and all that is needed now is some stakes winners and with the quality of horse that is about, I'm sure they will come," said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm.  "The likes of Wootton Bassett, Forjatt and Waltz Darling are all reported to be stakes horses and the first two hold nominations for the Gimcrack so that gives some indication of the regard they are held in," he said.

Iffraaj arrives in New Zealand on Saturday and after completing quarantine will take up residence at Haunui for his third Southern Hemisphere season.  He stands for a fee of $10,000 + GST and will serve a limited book of 120 mares.  For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty - 021 663 995, Shannon Taylor - 0212 855 513 or, Justine Sclater - 0276 464 761.

Haunui Farm stallion Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) continues to add to his tally of winners with yet another winner in England to take his total to 13.

Iffraaj's individual winners have secured him a position at the top of the European First Season Sires Table and if the roll continues, he could well be headed for top honours at the end of the Northern Hemisphere season.

“Iffraaj has certainly set tongues wagging in the Northern Hemisphere,” said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm.  “He has sired thirteen winners before he even took to the track himself – he didn’t win his first two-year-old race until the end of September,” he said.  “He has had five two-year-olds win on debut and they are all doing it in very good fashion,” said Mark.  “Many of his progeny race as he did – on the pace – and they finish off their races well,” he said.  “They all appear to have good actions and you can only think that as he did, they will get better as they get older,” said Mark.

Placed third in his first start, Iffraaj won his only other assignment as a two-year-old and at three, his career was stalled due to an injury sustained at his first three-year-old start.  After just under twelve months off the track, Iffraaj returned to record three wins in-a-row at four and later that season claimed his first of three Group Two victories when taking out the Doncaster Park Stakes.  At five, Iffraaj was second in the Group One July Cup, beaten the narrowest of margins before obliterating his rivals in the Group Two Lennox Stakes and at his final start, set a track record at York when taking out his second Group Two Park Stakes. 

Iffraaj ended his race career the highest rated sprinter of 2006 with a Timeform rating of 127 and International Classification of 128.  

“There is no doubting his class on the racetrack,” said Mark of Iffraaj, “and he has had a dream start to his Northern Hemisphere career,” he said.  “If he is still the leading first season sire at the end of the season, we will be the only studfarm in the world to be standing two Champion First Season Sires – Iffraaj and Elusive City who was Champion First Season Sire in 2008,” he said.

Haunui Farm stallion Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) has notched another winner in Hong Kong this season with the win overnight of Go Fay Fay (NZ) from the stable of Tony Millard.

Go Fay Fay's win takes Elusive City's tally in Hong Kong this season to five from just nine starters making him one of the most popular stallions in the Asian market this season.

"Elusive City's success has seen a number of his horses sold up there in recent times and he now has ten horses domiciled in Hong Kong," said Shannon Taylor, Marketing and Operations Manager at Haunui Farm.  "Brave Kid was an outstanding performer winning six from nine including a third in the Hong Kong Derby and Blaze King is also another Class One winner there this season," she said.

Elusive City will have a runner in the Singapore Derby this weekend when the Bruce Marsh-trained All Elusive (NZ) (Elusive City) tackles the 2000m event.  The horse worked well in track work yesterday and is in with every chance according to his trainer.  "He worked well this morning, is well in himself and will certainly run the distance," he said.

In just under ten days time Elusive City will touch down in New Zealand and after completing quarantine, will commence his seventh season at stud in New Zealand, his fifth standing at Haunui Farm.  His 2010 fee remains unchanged at $8,000 + GST and he will serve a limited book of 120 mares.

Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) four-year-old Blaze King (NZ) blasted his rivals at Sha Tin on Sunday with a dominant four length victory in the Class One sprint.

Racing over 1000m, Blaze King was bounced from the barriers and quickly into a handy position for jockey Mark Du Plessis.  Coming to the business end of the race, hands and heels was all that was required for Blaze King to change gear and quickly put the race beyond doubt.

At three, Blaze King made an immediate impact in Hong Kong with three wins-in-a-row and at his first start this season for the stable of David Hall, looked set to continue his winning ways.  Sunday's impressive win was an emphatic bounce back to form for Blaze King who has put in some head scratching performances of late however the addition of blinkers seemed to work the oracle as he made his opposition look second rate.

"It was a very dominant victory and Class One sprints in Hong Kong aren't easy to win," said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm.  "Elusive City has had two Class One winners in Hong Kong this season from only nine starters, the other being Brave Kid who won six from nine starts this season," he said. 

Three-year-old filly Lamington Vegas (NZ) (Elusive City) scored arguably the most impressive and effortless win on the card at Avondale on Saturday with a five-and-a-half length demolition of her rivals over 1200m.

Lining up for the second time this preparation, the Listed Ryder Stakes-winner jumped quickly from a wide barrier draw to sit outside the leader and upon straightening, the race was in no doubt with a confident hands and heels ride by leading jockey Opie Bosson.

With Saturday's win under her belt, Lamington Vegas will now look to add to her blacktype tally when lining up first in the Listed Opunake Cup (1400m) on the 24th of July before tackling the Group Three Foxbridge Plate (1200m) two weeks later.

Elusive City returns to New Zealand in just over two weeks time to take up stud duties once again at Haunui Farm.  One of the most in demand stallions at Karaka 2010, Elusive City has enjoyed outstanding success in Hong Kong and Singapore as well as scoring his first Group winner in Australia in the Autumn whilst Lamington Vegas looks set to add to this success in the coming months.  Elusive City will stand for an unchanged fee of $8,000 + GST this season and will serve a limited book of 120 mares.

b c Iffraaj - Fayreform - a member of Iffraaj's first Southern Hemisphere crop

After topping Europe's First Season Sires Table at the end of June by number of winners, Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) has now notched his first blacktype performer with Free Art (Ire) (Iffraaj) placed third in the Listed Golden Fleece Stakes (7f) at Leopardstown overnight.

With eleven individual winners to date, Iffraaj has made a flying start to his career in the Northern Hemisphere and his run looks set to continue in the near future with Introvert (GB) (Iffraaj) set to line up again this weekend for Godolphin after a close second on debut at Newmarket in June.

"We have received some great reports from the Northern Hemisphere in regard to Iffraaj's progeny," said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm.  "He served a quality book of mares at Kildangan this season - his best yet - and his fertility was over 90% with 146 mares covered so the Irish breeders have certainly taken note of his performance," he said.

Iffraaj will stand at Haunui Farm in 2010 for a fee of $10,000 + GST.  As the current leading First Seasion Sire in Europe by winners and, the leading First Crop Sire at New Zealand Bloodstock's May Weanling Sale, he is certainly making an impression in both hemispheres.

For more information in regard to the Haunui stallions, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty - 021 663 995, Shannon Taylor - 0212 855 513 or Justine Sclater - 0276 464 761.

After an impressive debut victory, today's EBN reports that two-year-old filly Stay Alive (Ire) (Iffraaj) will be sent to the spelling paddock. 

From the EBN:

Grundy Bloodstock's homebred sparkled on her debut when she crushed the field, scoring easily by three-and-a-quarter lengths in a very good time over 1200m.  David Stagni, ItaliaForm's two-year-old handicapper, gave the filly a flattering mark of 100 (equivalent to 90 on Racing Post Ratings).

"She was highly impressive.  She won in a time much faster than the colts and just a second slower than the older sprinters of Stakes calibre in a conditions race.  I like the way she jumped from the gate and she ran like a professional filly.  This is a good first step, now we can give her a break and then plan the second part of the season," said owner and breeder Franca Vittadini.

She added: "I fell in love with the sire when he finished second in the G1 July Cup.  He is a beautiful horse, with a fine pedigree and a lot of speed.  Spotting the first season sires is the kind of game I like and is one of the most entertaining challenges in this job."

Haunui Farm stallion Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) has had yet another streak of winners in the past week with five winners in four different countries in less than a week.

The run started in New Zealand last Friday when Elusive Chik (NZ) (Elusive City) notched her fourth win when winning easily over 1200m at Te Aroha.  The weekend saw a solid double in Asia with the Bruce Marsh-trained All Elusive (NZ) (Elusive City) scoring impressively en route to a tilt at the Singapore Derby whilst in Malaysia three-year-old filly Cizen Bank (NZ) (Elusive City) landed the first leg of the Malaysian Three-Year-Old Championship (1200m).

The last two days has seen an Australian double through the deeds of Sandusky City (NZ) (Elusive City) scoring his sixth win at Geelong and yesterday Full Moon (NZ) (Elusive City) put her name in the mix with a win in Perth for trainer Danny O'Brien.

"All Elusive was very impressive in Singapore and the Singapore Derby is on his agenda which would be great given that he had Brave Kid run third in the Hong Kong equivalent," said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm.

Elusive City will land in New Zealand on the 17th of July and after completing quarantine will take up residence once again at Haunui Farm.  His 2010 service fee is $8,000 + GST and he will cover a limited book of 120 mares.

Yes, that's right, the winners keep coming for Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) with the Haunui Farm stallion adding another debutante to his growing list of winners.

You may have noticed the launch of our new website earlier today and it seems appropriate that the first news update on the site comes in the form of another Iffraaj winner, Stay Alive (Ire) (Iffraaj).

Lining up in Italy, Stay Alive won with a lot left in the tank according to reports in today's EBN, the filly recording a quicker time over the 1200m than the colts.

With eleven individual winners to his credit, Iffraaj still heads the First Season Sires Table in Europe by number of winners with the trend looking set to continue in the coming weeks.

Iffraaj will touch down in New Zealand in just over two weeks time where he will spend two weeks in quarantine before returning to Haunui Farm for his third Southern Hemisphere season.  Standing at a fee of $10,000 + GST in 2010, Iffraaj will serve a limited book of 120 mares. 

Haunui Farm stallion Elusive City (USA) (Elusive Quality) scored a solid double in Asia earlier this week with an impressive performance by All Elusive (NZ) (Elusive City) in Singapore and an equally impressive performance by Cizen Bank (NZ) in Malaysia.

The Bruce Marsh trained All Elusive came from well back for a smart win at Kranji which will hopefully see him qualify for the Singapore Derby whilst Cizen Bank won the first leg of the Malaysian three-year-old Championship to record his third win.

Haunui Farm stallion Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) has hit double figures over the weekend with yet another debutante coming up trumps in England.

Iffraaj’s tenth individual winner came in the form of the big, strong, chestnut colt Zacynthus (Ire) (Iffraaj) who in the colours of Godolphin romped to victory over 7f on the July course at Newmarket on Saturday.

Jumping quickly from the barriers, Zacynthus raced prominently in the early stages and over the last 2f finished the race off far too strongly for his competition winning by a comfortable two-and-a-half lengths at the line.

“That’s the fifth Iffraaj that has won on debut to date,” said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm. “They are all stepping up to the mark pretty quickly and long before he himself had even won a race at two which is pretty exciting,” he said.

The highest rated sprinter of Europe in 2006, Iffraaj had only the two starts at two with his three-year-old season curtailed due to injury after just one start. Given his opportunity as an older horse, Iffraaj well and truly proved his worth with three Group Two victories, including a track record at York for his second Park Stakes, and the closest of seconds in the Group One July Cup.

Iffraaj’s two-year-olds are undoubtedly making their mark on the racetracks of England and Ireland whilst in the Southern Hemisphere his first crop of weanlings set tongues wagging at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Weanling Sale in May with the young stallion the leading First Season Sire.

“Iffraaj has certainly made a great start to his career in the Northern Hemisphere and the results are certainly filtering through down here as we are getting a lot of enquiry,” said Mark. “It is very exciting to see him topping the First Season Sires Table on number of winners and if the results keep coming as they are, there’s no reason he won’t be at the top of the list at the end of the season,” he said.

2010 will see Iffraaj returning to Haunui Farm for his third Southern Hemisphere season. He will stand for a fee of $10,000 + GST and will serve a limited book of 120 mares. For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty – 021 663 995 021 663 995 – Shannon Taylor – 0212 855 513 0212 855 513 or, Justine Sclater – 0276 464 761 0276 464 761 .

The numbers keep ticking over for Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) with his eighth winner on the board over the weekend and plenty more runners to come this week.

Wootton Bassett (Ire) (Iffraaj) was an impressive winner on debut over six furlongs at Ayr and added his name to the growing tally of first crop winners for Iffraaj taking the total to eight.

Another who races in a similar fashion to his sire, Wootton Bassett settled just outside the leader after jumping from a wide barrier and upon quickening at the 2f pole easily took the lead.  He faced a stern challenge with a furlong to go but won by a length and a half at the line.

Iffraaj was unlucky not score another weekend double with the Godolphin runner Introvert (Ire) (Iffraaj) a strong second on debut at Newmarket over 7f.  He will be one to watch at his next start.

“The winners just keep rolling in,” said Shannon Taylor, Marketing & Operations Manager at Haunui Farm.  “Iffraaj is second on the First Season Sires list and in looking through his entries for the coming weeks, his numbers are sure to keep climbing,” she said.  “The good thing is that many of them are winning on debut or at their second start,” she said.

Iffraaj, himself a winner at two, trained on to race at the elite level at four and five after suffering an injury which curtailed his three-year-old season.  “That is what is so exciting about his progeny,” said Shannon.  “They are coming out an winning even before he did himself however given the fact that he raced on as an older horse, you would think his progeny will do the same,” she said.

Iffraaj is set to arrive in New Zealand in the middle of next month at which time he will complete two weeks of quarantine before heading to Haunui to serve his third Southern Hemisphere season.  Standing at a fee of $10,000 + GST, he will serve a limited book of 120 mares.

Two-year-old colt Jetset Lad (NZ) (Elusive City) proved too strong on debut at New Plymouth yesterday with an impressive win.

Racing in the John Wheeler colours, Jetset Lad was caught wide early when jumping from barrier ten and raced as such for the duration of the 1200m event.  When asked to quicken by jockey Jonathan Riddell, he quickly responded and finishing strongly down the centre of the track, never looked in doubt crossing the line with his ears pricked.

Elusive City is a stallion that has been well talked about in recent months after an extremely successful yearling sale series which saw him achieve a Premier Sale average of $203,000, a sale topping $250,000 in the Select Session and a sale record and top price of $110,00 in the Festival Sale at Karaka 2010.  This was closely followed by an impressive victory by Returntosender (Aus) (Elusive City) in the Group Two Queen of the South Stakes (1600m) and although it is early days yet, Jetset Lad could well be a Ryder Stakes contender next month, a race won impressively last season by Lamington Vegas (NZ) (Elusive City) who has just recently returned to the race track.

Elusive City stands at Haunui Farm in 2010 for an unchanged fee of $8,000 + GST and will serve a limited book of 120 mares.  For more information in regard to the Haunui Stallions, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty – 021 663 995, Shannon Taylor – 0212 855 513 or, Justine Sclater – 0276 464 761.

Haunui Farm stallion Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) has continued his remarkable start to his stud career recording his seventh individual winner at Kempton over night.

Two-year-old filly Sceal Nua (Ire) (Iffraaj) was a comfortable winner in the end after staving off a strong challenge from the well fancied pair of Pencarrow (GB) (Green Desert) and Dubai Moon (USA) (Malibu Moon), both from the Godolphin stable.

Jumping quickly from the gates, Sceal Nua took up the lead early in the running and settled nicely.  Handling the tight turning Kempton track, she was held together nicely by jockey Richard Hughes and was asked for her effort over the final two furlongs.  With Pencarrow mounting a strong challenge on her outer, the two fillies fought it out over the final furlong with Sceal Nua pulling away at the line to win by a comfortable half length at the line.

With seven winners to his credit to date, Iffraaj sits second on the First Crop Sires list and on Friday has his first runners at blacktype level when the fillies Idiom (Ire) and Bay Of Fires (Ire) contest the Group Three Albany Stakes (6f) at Royal Ascot.  Idiom was an impressive five length winner at her second start for Godolphin whilst Bay Of Fires also comes into the race after winning on the 8^th of June.

“For Iffraaj to have two fillies lining up at Royal Ascot is very exciting,” said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm.  “He has made a great start to his stud career in the Northern Hemisphere and a blacktype result would be the icing on the cake,” he said.  “Both of these fillies have shown plenty in their two starts to date so they have been given their opportunity and we will certainly be watching with interest,” said Mark.

The leading first season sire at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Weanling Sale in May, Iffraaj will stand his third season at Haunui Farm in 2010 for a fee of $10,000 + GST.  Like all of the Haunui stallions, his book is limited to 120 mares.  For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty – 021 663 995, Shannon Taylor – 0212 855 513 or, Justine Sclater – 0276 464 761.

Haunui Farm graduate Fulfil A Wish (NZ) (Commands) has made it two wins from as many starts in Hong Kong and is the early leader in the Griffins ranks in Hong Kong.

Purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club from Haunui’s 2009 Premier Draft for $90,000, Fulfil A Wish was always destined for the Griffins ranks and was sold at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s annual sale for HK$4.5 million almost NZ$800,000! 

In the stable of John Size, Fulfil A Wish has notched up two impressive wins and looks to have a promising career ahead.

Two-year-old filly Bay Of Fires (Ire) (Iffraaj) became the sixth individual winner for Haunui Farm stallion Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) when putting in a smart effort over six furlongs at Redcar over night.

Facing the starter for the second time after a solid third on debut at Haydcock two weeks ago, Bay Of Fires jumped smartly from midfield and settled nicely on the pace for jockey Silvestre de Sousa.  The filly showed her greenness over the last furlong and went from running on the inside of the track to the outside rail however her class still prevailed.

With six winners to his credit – three colts and three fillies – Iffraaj currently sits second on the First Season Sires table and is set to have at least one runner at the upcoming Royal Ascot meeting in the form of Idiom (Ire) who will line up for the Godolphin stable.

Iffraaj will stand at Haunui Farm for a fee of $10,000 + GST in 2010.

Haunui Farm stallion Don Eduardo (NZ) (Zabeel) has cracked the million dollar mark in stakes earned in Australia this season thanks to the deeds of talented four-year-old Zevada (NZ) (Don Eduardo) in Brisbane on Saturday.

One of 16 winners across the Tasman for Don Eduardo so far this season, Zevada is one of a growing list of talented gallopers that the AJC Derby-winner is leaving joining the likes of Divine Rebel (NZ), Swift Alliance (Aus), Moti (NZ), Autumn Ember (Aus) and Older Than Time (Aus)  just to name a few.

To cap the day off, Reposado (NZ) (Don Eduardo) added his name to the list of stakes performers for his sire when second in the Listed Cornwall Handicap (2200m), one of the traditional races of Queens Birthday Weekend racing at Ellerslie. 

In finishing second on Saturday, Reposado became the 11th stakes performer for Don Eduardo, following a very successful Autumn with three Group One performers in the in the form of Booming (NZ), Divine Rebel, and Swift Alliance.  Add to that list stakes placed three-year-old filly Miss Bindi (NZ) and Zevada, and Don Eduardo has a tally of five stakes winners in the current racing season.

"To have earned over a million dollars in stakes in Australia this season is an excellent result," said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm.  "He has left two Group One horses in Australia this season and his two top priced yearlings were sold to two of Australia's best trainers in John Hawkes and Lee Freedman which shows the regard he is held in over there," said Mark.  "That is very important given that Australia is our major export market and as long as they keep performing, it all bodes well for the future," he said.

Don Eduardo will stand for $7,000 + GST in the 2010 breeding season and will serve a limited book of 120 mares.  For more information please feel free to contact Mark Chitty - 021 663 995, Shannon Taylor - 0212 855 513 or, Justine Sclater - 0276 464 761.

Haunui Farm stallion Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) is certainly starting to make his presence felt in the Northern Hemisphere with an impressive double overnight to take his Northern Hemisphere tally of winners to four at just the start of the flat racing season.

Racing in the colours initially worn by his sire, two-year-old colt Forjatt (Ire) (Iffraaj) looked every bit like his sire when winning on debut at Nottingham for trainer Michael Jarvis and the world’s most famous jockey, Frankie Dettori.

Jumping well from the gates, Forjatt raced as green as the grass he was galloping on but when really asked the question by Detorri over the final stages of the race, flattened out to take the lead easily and win by a half length.

Completing the overnight double was another colt, Waltz Darling (Ire) (Iffraaj) who was equally impressive when winning at Ripon.  Also on debut, Waltz Darling took up a racing pattern similar to that of his sire as he raced handy to the lead.  With two furlongs to go, he was popped the question by jockey Paul Hanagan and responded swiftly to hit the lead and stretch out to a comfortable one-and-a-half length victory.

Fellow debutante Joe Eile (Ire) (Iffraaj) almost completed a hat trick for his sire when denied by a head on debut at Fairyhouse however on the back of that performance, race success is sure to be just around the corner.

“We received some very positive comments from some of the Northern Hemisphere based agents when we were in Sydney,” said Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm.  “All of Iffraaj’s winners have been very impressive and if you watch their races, they are all quality types with good actions,” he said.  “If the results keep coming in like this, we will be more than happy,” he said.

Iffraaj will stand at Haunui Farm in 2010 for a fee of $10,000 + GST and will serve a limited book of 120 mares.  For more information, please feel free to contact Mark Chitty – 021 663 995, Shannon Taylor – 0212 855 513 or, Justine Sclater – 0276 464 761.

Three-year-old filly Miss Bindi (NZ) (Don Eduardo) made light work of her rivals at Ellerslie on Saturday with an effortless three-length victory over 1400m in the last event on the card.