The New Zealand livestock scene has undergone a seismic change in recent years as the industry suffers from the loss of several famous stallions across the country.
While the last trees of the late Tavistock were sold earlier this year, the last plants of the ill-fated male of Windsor Park Stud and the former Rip Van Winkle of Haunui Farm Iffraaj will be offered in this year’s delayed Karaka sale.
However, after a weekend that saw a son and grandson of the latter deliver a possible candidate the Golden Sandal (G1) in Sydney and the winner of the Karaka Million 2YO lucrative at home, the continued influence in the Iffraaj’s bloodline will appear gratefully assured to New Zealand breeders.
Darley’s Iffraaj moved to Mark Chitty’s Haunui Ranch in New Zealand for 12 consecutive seasons before making the decision to halt his post-2019 annual southward stay that included duties in the good will. of stallions. To date, males have left 29 Southern Hemisphere hybrid stake winners, including group 1 classic winners Turn Me Loose , Gingernuts, and Jon Snow, while Western Empire and Wyndspelle are all elite level winners. As a son of Zafonic, Iffraaj has twice finished second behind the mighty Savabeel as New Zealand’s general male leader.
And the male’s fans were given two reasons to celebrate January 22 as James Cummings trained. Plymstock wrestled a trio with Tim Clark before rushing home midway through Randwick to win the 2-year-old handicap, becoming the first winner for Iffraaj’s most prized son, Ribchester . Over three hours later, that joy was enhanced by the first AU$1 million win for Almanzor ‘S Monastery in Karaka Million 2YO at the sunset meeting of Ellerslie.
The stallion duo were joined in New Zealand by Iffraaj’s male sons Turn Me Loose and Wyndspelle, who stood at Windsor Park Stud and Grangewilliam Stud respectively. The bloodline is set to proliferate further through Telemon Stud .’s Australian team 1 winner Wild cat , who saw his first fives sell for Magic Millions last week, and Coolmore’s high-end camcorder Wootton Bassett , who wrote a book of 187 mares in its first season in the Southern Hemisphere last year.
“It’s great to see (Iffraaj) influence here on Saturday,” Chitty told ANZ Bloodstock News Sunday. “He has a daughter who also leaves a stake winner here (Liquorland Gore Guineas Winner) Mackenzie Lad).
“Myself and those associated with Iffraaj, I think we made a point of bringing him to the Southern Hemisphere. Arguably, if he wins the July championship (Cup, G1), we will I won’t be able to stand him because he’s retired as just a group of 2 winners.
“It’s been a great ride for him. And he’s just a lovely horse. He’s going to have a significant impact (in the years to come).”
When announcing the end of carrier duty for Iffraaj in April 2020, Chitty and Darley also revealed an agreement had been made for Haunui Ranch to stand on Ribchester, the group’s 4-time winning son. 1 of his, to fill the void that is certain to be. perceived by New Zealand breeders.
Plymstock, who had long claimed a cozy victory over Deep Expectation coached by Peter Robl, came from the first of the Ribchester’s first two crops, who had originally taken on the mission in the Southern Hemisphere. at Darley’s Kelvinside property before Iffraaj retired as a train driver. Out of Outdoor (Redoute’s Choice), Plymstock is half-sister to the group 1 winner Long walk. One of three generations of dark horses to have raced in the Southern Hemisphere to date, Chitty is highly regarded for the early talent the Ribchesters displayed.
“Sitting here in New Zealand, we know how competitive the 2-year-old scene in Australia and especially in Sydney is, so to win the town debut, in Sydney, on Saturday, you couldn’t ask for more”. Chitty said.
“Used to stand Iffraaj and now have the opportunity to stand Ribchester, which is pretty exciting. He’s had a few runners and I always think when you have runners running around Sydney at the moment, they’re showing up. It’s probably way sooner than you’d expect.”
Those first two Australian crossbred crops produced only 70 ponies in total, with Ribchester’s numbers having dropped to 53 in 2019 from its inaugural season of 63. However, with a return to New Zealand , breeders backed the stallion by sending 78 mares in 2020 and, backed by a promising first season in Europe which saw a first bet winner at Doncaster of the 17 individual winners, his numbers rebounded in season four, where he stood at NZ$15,000 (plus GST).
Ribchester
While in New Zealand, Ribchester received a different mare profile than he mentioned in Australia and Chitty was impressed with his first ponies born last year from Haunui Farm’s first matings.
“We’re absolutely smitten with horses. Colts, the filling, he’s left with a bit of physicality, a bit of style, and a little bit of power and that’s from many different types of horses. It’s just general. being a good crop of ponies gives people some confidence,” he said.
“He hasn’t served 100 mares in a season but we went up to 94 last year in his fourth season.
“Iffraaj has done a great job here with the mare team based in New Zealand and everyone has also invested in international and Australian blood here over the last 5 to 10 years.
“(Darley) haven’t sent mares (to Ribchester) yet, but they did with Iffraaj. And I mean, depending on where things go, they’ll do the same here. The team in Australia hit Their pony prices are quite appreciative and that’s the biggest thing that allowed him to come to New Zealand.”
Breaking the rules of previous years, Chitty was able to celebrate her steed’s success without having to prepare an aspirational shipment to be in Karaka next week, with sales delayed for through March 7 due to the current restrictions in place. COVID-19.
Of the 27 strong Haunui Ranch drafts offered in Book 1 at Karaka, 5 were Iffraaj’s late-season breeds, with trainers and breeders giving the last 21 chances to race. their Southern Hemisphere descendants when sold.
“They will all benefit from another five weeks in the yard before preparing for the sale in March,” Chitty said.
“It would suit New Zealand horses as we mature a bit later. I think that could mean the buy bench could be a bit more ruthless with some horses. They will be less lenient. Some stallions when you sell at the end of January, you’ve only had spring and are halfway through the summer, so there are chances for success and some potential disappointment.
“We’ll be fourth in the rankings when it comes to sales this year, which will again present its challenges. But the horses are beautiful, no matter where you tend to go. , will sell well and for most breeders, it will be like the average market goes up.”
