There was a new Group winner for the mighty Iffraaj at Riyadh when his unbeaten three-year-old son, Al Haram, landed the valuable Group 3 Saudi Derby under jockey Ricardo Ferreira.
Having won the Saudi 2000 Guineas on his previous start in January, the Abdullah Alsidrani-trained Al Haram broke steadily in the one-mile contest and was nudged along towards the rear of the 14-runner field. He began to make some headway 3 furlongs out before being pushed into contention a furlong from home. Hitting the front within the final 100 yards he surged clear to assert by a length and a quarter from American raider Obliteration. This brings his winning tally to an impressive four from four.
Bred by Seamus Phelan, Al Haram is out of the unraced mare Liberamente (Tagula), herself from the family of Limato, winner of the G1 July Cup.
Iffraaj continues to be a phenomenal sire of black-type winners, with 13 at the highest level headed by Wootton Bassett and Ribchester. Iffraaj stands at Dalham Hall Stud for a fee of £10,000 Oct 1 SLF.