Remarkable Perth galloper Western Empire notched his ninth Stakes victory when he stormed home from 10th at the home turn to win the G3
Iffraaj
Undefeated G1-winning juvenile and sire Wootton Bassett, European Champion miler Ribchester – plus star fillies Chriselliam and Rizeena among 13 career G1 winners: it’s quite a cv. And he’s still got it: Audience wins the G1 Lockinge and G2 Lennox in 2024, and one-time British-trained Timeform Champion three-year-old My Prospero returned from injury in Group-winning form. Breed a nice one (and he is so good-looking) and you will be rewarded: 2024 yearlings sell for €180k, £150k and 105,000gns.
Best progeny
His winning offspring
Video footage
Watch him go: see him at his best
Watch THEM go: big wins by his offspring
Pedigree
IFFRAAJ |
ZAFONIC |
GONE WEST |
MR PROSPECTOR |
RAISE A NATIVE |
GOLD DIGGER |
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SECRETTAME |
SECRETARIAT |
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TAMERETT |
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ZAIZAFON |
THE MINSTREL |
NORTHERN DANCER |
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FLEUR |
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MOFIDA |
RIGHT TACK |
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WORLD LASS |
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PASTORALE |
NUREYEV |
NORTHERN DANCER |
NEARCTIC |
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NATALMA |
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SPECIAL |
FORLI |
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THONG |
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PARK APPEAL |
AHONOORA |
LORENZACCIO |
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HELEN NICHOLS |
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BALIDARESS |
BALIDAR |
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INNOCENCE |
By ZAFONIC (1990) European Horse of the Year, Dewhurst S (G1), 2,000 Guineas (G1), etc. Sire of 665 foals aged three and up, including IFFRAAJ, COUNT DUBOIS, XAAR, ZAFEEN, ZEE ZEE TOP, ALRASSAAM, DUPONT, FLASHY WINGS, PACINO, ZIPPING, etc.
1st dam: PASTORALE by Nureyev. 2 wins (7f-8f) at 3. Dam of 13 foals, 12 to race, 11 winners:
IFFRAAJ (c Zafonic) G2 winner, see Race record.
FARRAAJ (g Dubai Destination) 6 wins (7f-10½f), 2 to 5, Winter Derby (G3), Churchill S, 2nd Somerville Tattersall S (G3), 3rd Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1), Mackinnon S (G1).
KAREYMAH (f Zafonic) 3 wins (7f) at 2, Prix du Calvados (G3), Sweet Solera S.
Taqdeyr (g Dubai Destination) 4 wins (7f) at 3 and 4, 3rd Guisborough S.
JATHAABEH (f Nashwan) 2 wins (8f) at 3. Dam of:
MIJHAAR (g Shirocco) Braveheart H, 3rd Wolferton H, Hambleton S.
AKRMINA (f Zafonic) Winner (7f) at 3. Dam of:
In Spain (f Selkirk) Placed at 3. Dam of: Majestic Moments (g Darci Brahma) 2nd Singapore Derby; The Matador (g Darci Brahma) 2nd Champagne S.
2nd dam: PARK APPEAL by Ahonoora. Champion two-year-old filly in England and Ireland, 5 wins (6f-8½f) at 2 and 4, Cheveley Park S (G1), Moyglare Stud S (G1). Sister to NASHAMAA. Dam of 9 winners:
CAPE CROSS (c Green Desert) 5 wins, 2 to 5, Lockinge S (G1), Queen Anne S (G2), 3rd Prix Jacques Le Marois (G1). Sire.
VINCENNES (f King’s Best) 3 wins at 3, Kolner Herbst-Stuten-Meile (G3). Dam of:
Halimi (c Teofilo) 3rd Dubai Millennium S (G3), Coppa d'Oro.
PHOENIX PARK (c Sadler’s Wells) 3 wins at 4 and 6, Prix du Carrousel.
GREAT BRITAIN (c Green Desert) Winner at 3 and 5, Al Quoz Sprint.
ARVOLA (f Sadler’s Wells) Winner at 3. Dam of:
DIKTAT (c Warning) Champion older sprinter in Europe, Haydock Park Sprint Cup S (G1), Prix Maurice de Gheest (G1). Sire.
RECITE (f Forty Niner) Winner. Dam of: ONE SPIRIT (f Invincible Spirit) Owenstown Stud S, 2nd Solonaway S (G3); Some Spirit (f Invincible Spirit) 2nd Fairy Bridge S (G3).
3rd dam: BALIDARESS by Balidar. 3 wins at 3 and 4. Dam of 8 winners:
ALYDARESS (f Alydar) Champion three-year-old filly in Ireland, 3 wins at 3, Irish Oaks (G1), 2nd Yorkshire Oaks (G1). Dam of:
ALLUREMENT (f Sadler’s Wells) Prix Cleopatre (G3).
LAIYL (f Nureyev) Winner at 3. Dam of: LAYMAN (c Sunday Silence) Prix de Cabourg (G3), Sovereign S (G3), 2nd Prix Morny (G1). Sire. Grandam of: KUKERACHA (g Night of Thunder) Queensland Derby (G1), Premier's Cup (G3), Tails S, 3rd Hollindale S (G2).
DESIRABLE (f Lord Gayle) 3 wins at 2, Cheveley Park S (G1), 2nd Moyglare Stud S (G1). Dam of:
SHADAYID (f Shadeed) Champion two-year-old filly in Europe, 1,000 Guineas (G1), Prix Marcel Boussac (G1). Dam of: BINT SHADAYID (f Nashwan) Prestige S (G3), 3rd 1,000 Guineas (G1); IMTIYAZ (c Woodman) Glasgow S, 2nd Prix Jean Prat (G1). Grandam of: Farhaan (c Jazil) 2nd Shoemaker Mile S (G1). Third dam of: TAKAFUL (c Bernardini) Vosburgh S (G1), 2nd Allen H Jerkins S (G1), 3rd Toboggan S (G3); HAIKAL (c Daaher) Gotham S (G3), 2nd Excelsior S (G3), 3rd Wood Memorial S (G2); Vafortino (c New Bay) 2nd City of York S (G2).
DUMAANI (c Danzig) Keio Hai Spring Cup (G2). Sire.
FATH (c Danzig) Lennox S (G3), 2nd Middle Park S (G1). Sire.
NASHAMAA (c Ahonoora) 4 wins, 2 to 4, Ballymacoy S (G3). Sire.
SALIDAR (f Sallust) Winner at 3. Dam of:
BIN AJWAAD (c Rainbow Quest) Gladness S (G3). Sire.
Balistroika (f Nijinsky) Unraced. Dam of:
RUSSIAN RHYTHM (f Kingmambo) Champion three-year-old filly in Europe, Lockinge S (G1), 1,000 Guineas S (G1). Grandam of: GOOD GUESS (c Kodiac) Prix Jean Prat (G1); ZONDERLAND (c Dutch Art) Sovereign S (G3), 2nd Celebration Mile S (G2), Challenge S (G2), 3rd Sovereign S (G3); SPANGLED (f Starspangledbanner) Sceptre S (G3); MARENKO (f Exceed And Excel) Fred Darling S (G3), 2nd May Hill S (G2); BASHKIROVA (f Pivotal) Princess Elizabeth S (G3); POTAPOVA (f Invincible Spirit) Atalanta S (G3), 3rd Atalanta S (G3). Third dam of: MAKAROVA (f Acclamation) Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (G1), Coral Charge Sprint (G3), 3rd Flying Five S (G1), Sapphire S (G2).
Flames Of Paris (f Blushing Groom) Unraced. Dam of: HOT SNITZEL (g Snitzel) BTC Cup (G1).
Conformation
Race record
His successful career
Age | Starts | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
Two | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | - |
Three | 1 | - | - | - | 1 |
Four | 6 | 4 | - | - | - |
Five | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | - |
Total | 13 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
At 2
- 1st
- Maiden race, 7f, Warwick, beating Soulacroix.
At 4
- 1st
- Park S (G2), 7f, Doncaster, beating Sleeping Indian, Court Masterpiece, Arakan.
- 1st
- Victoria Cup H, 7f, Lingfield, beating Court Masterpiece, Jedburgh.
- 1st
- Wokingham S, 6f, York, beating Beckermet, Fire Up The Band, Country Reel, Continent.
- 1st
- Handicap, 6f, Kempton, beating Eisteddfod, High Reach.
At 5
- 1st
- Lennox S (G2), 7f, Goodwood, beating Jedburgh, Assertive, Nayyir, Etlaala, Jeremy.
- 1st
- Park S (G2), 7f, York, beating Somnus, Wasseema, Speciosa.
- 2nd
- July Cup (G1), 6f, Newmarket, to Les Arcs, beating Ashdown Express, Amadeus Wolf, Moss Vale, Takeover Target, Falkirk.
Timeform 127