Showcasing vs Iffraaj - Who's On Top?

So, you’ve received the 2017 Stallion Register and it’s time to firm up those mating decisions for the breeding season which is coming up faster than some of us would like to admit. And let’s face it, Kiwi’s are renowned for being late decision makers but, when it comes to the mating of our mares, there is no place for hasty decision making! 

With the above in mind, we’ve done a bit of our own research and would like to give you some further thoughts to ponder as you’re planning your matings this year.

Showcasing (GB) (Oasis Dream) made a flying start to his stallion career in both hemispheres and ended the 2014/2015 season as New Zealand’s Champion First Season and 2YO Sire. He landed the Karaka Million (Hardline) and notched up four stakes performers in his first crop. He backed this up last season and lead the way once again, Crowned Champion Second Season Sire. So, two out of two for Showcasing in a crop of sires that featured Makfi (GB) (Dubawi), Rip Van Winkle (Ire) (Galileo), Shocking (Aus) (Street Cry) and Per Incanto (USA) (Street Cry).

But, that’s history and what matters is the present where Showcasing is once again at the head of the pack – no surprises there! He’s New Zealand’s leading sire of 2YO winners with a total of five to date and, sits in fifth position on the overall table. His nearest rival from the same crop of stallions is Per Incanto in position 39.

*Statistics from Arion Pedigrees

And in looking at his southern hemisphere career so far, Showcasing leads the way by winners to runners (56.4%), number of winners (79), number of stakes performers (15), stakes performers to runners (10.7%) and, stakes earned – interestingly, we can take out the Karaka Million win of Hardline and he still leads the way in this regard.

*Statistics from Arion Pedigrees

But wait, there’s more! We’ve enjoyed a great season with Showcasing’s barn mate Iffraaj who has sired three Group One winners in 2017 alone and in drawing comparisons between the two,we can categorically state, Showcasing is ahead of Iffraaj at the same stage of his career. Comparing their first four crops, here are the stats so far:

At the same stage of their careers, both stallions have sired a Group One winner – Iffraaj left Wootton Bassett in his first crop, now a Group One sire himself, and Showcasing has left Royal Ascot Group One winner Quiet Reflection. Showcasing has left four Group Two winners versus Iffraaj who had left two, and he’s also left four Group Three winners versus Iffraaj’s three. In total, Showcasing has fifteen stakes winners to date whereas at the same stage, Iffraaj had 14. But look at the earnings - apart from year one, Showcasing’s progeny have earned considerably more than Iffraaj’s at the same stage.

*Statistics from Arion Pedigrees

Haunui Farm’s Mark Chitty says, “I think when people read the above stats, they’ll be pretty impressed with where Showcasing is at so far. It’s easy to draw comparisons when you’re comparing apples with apples and with Iffraaj and Showcasing we’re doing that – they’re both dual hemisphere sires although you could argue that Iffraaj served higher quality mares than Showcasing in his first four seasons.

“Some might say that Showcasing has had a quiet season. Has he? The tables show us he’s had the most 2YO winners in New Zealand so far this season. He’s the only stallion from the 2011 stallion crop to have left a Karaka Million winner. In fact, he left the winner in his first crop, the runner-up in his second and won the Karaka Million 3YO mile from his first crop of 3YO’s. He’s had runners in each rendition of the race so far – none of his counterparts have managed to do that.

“Then we can look at his results in Singapore. From his Southern Hemisphere crops, he’s had 20 winners from 23 runners -a staggering 87% winners to runners ratio- and his oldest crop are just four-year-olds. In Australia he’s had 12 winners from 18 starters including the ill-fated Cylinder Beach who was a Group winner at three and four. And in Hong Kong he’s four from six at the moment which underlines Showcasing's influence in our biggest export markets. 

“The last twelve months has seen five of Showcasing’s top-line fillies sold to Australia with La Mouline(G3 performer at two), Showmeyamoneyhoney(Karaka Million runner-up, G2 performer), We Belong(one start for one win) and Presentatie (three-time winner) all sold to Western Australia whilst So Far Sokool (stakes placed) has joined the stable of Archie Alexander in Melbourne for OTI Racing. And his stats in Singapore tell us that his trial and track performed colts and geldings are getting snapped up pretty quickly too.”

“Shannon and I will be happy to talk to anyone in regard to the stats above and the types of mares that we believe are best suited to Showcasing,” said Mark. “One thing we know for sure is that he can leave a runner out of any style of mare from a variety of sire lines. We also know he is an upgrader – the fact his 15 stakes winners are out of non-stakes performed or stakes producing mares tells us that. He is an International Group One sire and, the fact that he is well known in the Northern Hemisphere only boasts his sale ring opportunity in the Southern Hemisphere with such a strong Northern Hemisphere influence in our yearling sale market. We’ve seen what Iffraaj has done and if the stats are anything to go by, Showcasing is well on track to do the same.”