The number of Iffraaj's first foals on the ground is now well into double figures and the feedback on the new arrivals is very pleasing.
The first-born honours went to Denis McDonnell’s bay colt out of Acidanthera, who was born on 12 January. As the picture shows, he’s a strong individual and is a half-brother to the dual winner He’s A Humbug.
Michael Dalton’s Marju mare Dance Clear foaled another bay colt on 3 March and he has received rave reviews from his breeder, who said: “He’s the nicest foal we have on the farm this year. He has lots of scope and is very well put together.”
Another very happy breeder is Shelley Dwyer of Georgia House Stud, who describes Espana’s bay colt as: “bonny and lively with really good bone. He’s as nice a foal as we’ve had since we’ve been here at the stud. I keep looking at him and thinking he’s the perfect foal.”
That’s high praise indeed but not surprising when one recalls what an outstandingly good-looking horse Iffraaj is himself. The seven-time winner had speed written all over him when in training, his powerful physique enabling him to round off his career with back-to-back G2 wins in the Lennox Stakes and Park Stakes (a race he won two years’ running), with these two victories coming hard on the heels of him being touched off by a head in the G1 Darley July Cup.
Iffraaj, whose dam Pastorale, by Nureyev, is a half-sister to his fellow Kildangan Stud resident Cape Cross, stands at a fee of €12,000, 1 October, Special Live Foal.
