Home

The historic Haunui Farm of Auckland, N.Z., has become the first Southern Hemisphere farm to subscribe its sire roster to TrueNicks, allowing breeders to run complimentary matings with the stallions Iffraaj, Elusive City, and Don Eduardo.

Iffraaj (GB) (TrueNicks,SRO) was a three-time group II winner over seven furlongs in England, taking the GNER Park Stakes (Eng-II), twice, and the Betfair Cup Lennox Stakes (Eng-II), and finishing a very close second in the Darley July Cup (Eng-I). He is by Gone West (TrueNicks,SRO)'s highly successful son Zafonic, and is a brother to Kareymah (GB), winner of the Prix du Calvados Etalon Snurge (Fr-III) and the Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket. His dam, the winning Nureyev mare Pastorale (GB), is a half-sister to Cape Cross (IRE), an outstanding young sire in Europe and New Zealand, and is out of English and Irish champion 2-year-old filly Park Appeal (IRE). Iffraaj retired to stud in Europe in 2007 and first shuttled to New Zealand in 2008.

Both of Haunui’s young stallions with runners – Elusive City and Don Eduardo – have been in the headlines recently. Elusive City (TrueNicks,SRO) – a member of the first crop of Elusive Quality (TrueNicks,SRO) – earned a title as French champion 2-year-old after winning the Prix Morny Casinos Barriere (Fr-I) and Gerrard Investment Management Richmond Stakes (Eng-II), and was also third rated 2-year-old on the European Classification. Elusive City ended 2008 as the leading European freshman sire with three first-crop stakes winners and over $2.2 million in progeny earnings.

Sir Tristram’s classic-winning grandson Don Eduardo (NZ) (TrueNicks,SRO) was bred on the same Sir Tristam cross as English and Australian group I-winning half-brother Tristalove (NZ), as well as a similar cross to the mutliple Australian group I winner and successful New Zealand sire Kaapstad (NZ), from the all-conquering Eight Carat (GB) family. Don Eduardohas been on a tremendous roll with his first crop in the last few weeks. Vickezzchardonnay (NZ) captured the Hooker Pacific Taranaki Cup (NZ-III) February 14, three days after Divine Rebel (NZ) saluted the judge in the Emirates Chairman’s Handicap (Aus-II) at Randwick. Within a week All in Black (NZ) landed the Fairview Hawke’s Bay Gold Cup (NZ-III). Don Eduardo is also represented by four other stakes horses, three from his first crop, among them the Waiwera Mineral Water Railway Handicap (NZ-I) second Dashing Donna (NZ).

Filed under: Announcements