A new Australian star for Iffraaj was confirmed by the dominant win of Western Empire in Saturday’s Listed J C Roberts Stakes at Ascot, WA.
Already one of 75 Stakes winners for his sire, Western Empire had the 1,800m race, a traditional lead-up to the G2 West Australian Derby, in his keeping from the time the field settled into stride. He was produced at the 300m and quickly strode clear to win by three lengths from Holy Enchantment and Off Wego. This is Western Empire's second Stakes victory this season and the four-year-old is now a leading prospect for next month's Derby.
Western Empire is a half-brother to the Listed-winning Western Temple and out of the 2011 G2 Perth Cup winner Western Jewel (Jeune). She is a half-sister to the Stakes-winning Western Blaze, a son of Hard Spun, and from the family of G3 victrix Timeless Action.
Western Empire is one of three Stakes performers already in 2021 for Iffraaj alongside G2 Al Fahidi Fort Stakes victor Land Of Legends and last week's G3 Winter Derby hero Forest Of Dean. Iffraaj, who was replaced at Hainui by his best son, Ribchester, is standing the current northern hemisphere breeding season at Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £20,000 Oct 1, SLF.
