Francesca (Iffraaj) made her Group debut a winning one when taking the G3 Rotorua Stakes at Arawa Park on Saturday, 14 May. The Andrew Forsman-trained filly approached the 200m pole with a two length advantage and stayed on powerfully to seal a first Group victory.
Francesca was bred in New Zealand by owner/ breeder G J McCarthy and is out of the winning High Chaparral mare Matagouri. She is out of a half-sister to G3 scorer Monterey Bay and the dam of G3 Victoria Handicap winner Ayrton, himself a son of Iffraaj.
Former shuttle stallion Iffraaj is now the sire of 72 Stakes winners with 11 coming at the highest level. Among his G1 winners are French Champion two-year-old Wootton Bassett and Champion miler Ribchester, who replaces his sire at Hanaui Farm for the southern hemisphere season.
