Iffraaj, whose first-crop made a record-breaking start in Europe last season, is making splashes with his first crop in the southern hemisphere as well. Standing his first season in 2008 they are yearlings at present and he has just finished the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale as the leading first-season sire, with a total of ten selling for an average of $208,500.
He was also responsible for the highest priced yearling by a first-season sire, when his colt out of the Stakes-winning and Classic-placed mare Danasia was knocked down for $540,000 to leading trainer Mark Kavanagh. A half-brother to last season's G1 Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive, he comes from a top-class family with his first three dams all Stakes winners.
Mark Kavanagh, who trained Shocking to win the Melbourne Cup in 2009, must like what he sees in Iffraaj as he also signed for two more high-priced lots during the sale when spending $425,000 on a colt out of G3 winner Foxy Blonde and $300,000 for a half-brother to New Zealand Champion filly Justa Tad.
In addition with topping this sale he has also made a fantastic start on day one of the Select Yearling Sale, which runs for three days on the conclusion of the Premier sale, with his filly out of Sayyida leading the whole session at $290,000. Consigned by Trelawney Stud she is from the family of G1 Easter Handicap winner Prince Kaapstad.
In total for three days of selling at Karaka he has had nine lots sell for $100,000 or more.
Iffraaj, who finished the 2010 European season with 38 individual winners, a record for a first-season sire, has plenty to look forward to in 2011 including the unbeaten G1 winner Wootton Bassett and French G3 winner Espirita.
