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News

Son of Iffraaj joins the stable

Iffraaj has long been a force within the stallion ranks and is fast becoming a sire of sires. Group 1 winners Wootton Bassett, Turn Me Loose, Jungle Cat, Ribchester and Wyndspelle are all making their mark at studs around the world, with Gingernuts and Jon Snow further examples of the quality of horse his bloodlines possess. Western Empire, the dominant winner of Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes at Ascot and considered the next big thing out of the west, is the latest son of Iffraaj to make headlines.

It was with great delight that OTI recently secured the 2yo son of Iffraaj out of Dormez Vous from the NZB Ready to Run sales. Identified at an early age by trusted NZ Agent Phill Cataldo, responsible for the purchase of I’m Thunderstruck, Aloisia and many others, the colt presented in perfect condition on auction day. Phill commented “From the moment I laid eyes on him, I’ve been impressed. He oozes quality. For me, he was the pick of the sale”.

Iffraaj x Dormez Vous ’19 breezes for the ’21 Karaka Ready to Run Sale.

The colt is out of the Rip Van Winkle mare, Dormez Vous. Unraced, Dormez Vous is a half-sister to the 3-time Australian Group 1 winner Turn Me Loose (by Iffraaj). The appearance of Turn Me Loose on both sides of the family replicates the successful cross of Iffraaj with this family’s bloodlines.

Arriving to Australia earlier this week, he headed immediately into the care of Richard and Michael Freedman in Sydney. The stable has been in excellent form in recent times, which includes winning the 2021 Group 1 Golden Slipper with Stay Inside.

The short-term plan for the colt will be to familiarise himself with stable life before having a break. We will look to have the horse ready for his first race start in April, thereby giving him every chance to be ready for a stellar three-year-old season.

The NZB Ready to Run was a busy sale for OTI, with the team also bringing home a 50% interest in the Tarzino / Light Up A Screen gelding, purchased in conjunction with the Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior stable.

We look forward to both two-year-olds progressing towards their race careers with much anticipation.

For further information on the future plans of any of our horses, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email oti@oti.com.au.

Iffraaj x Dormez Vous ’19 colt.