Iffraaj Filly Melt Now Joint 1000 Guineas Favourite

Two from two in her Classic season and having taken care of her rivals with relative ease in Saturday's G3 Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka, Melt (NZ) (Iffraaj) has joined last season's Champion 2YO Avantage (Aus) (Fastnet Rock) at the head of betting for the G1 1000 Guineas in November.

A dual stakes winner at two and, runner-up to Avantage in the G1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes, Melt has come back in fine fettle this preparation for trainer Nigel Tiley and owner/breeder Andrew Fowler who raced Melt's dam, Ticklish (NZ) (Maroof).

A multiple stakes winner and G1 performer herself, Ticklish hasn't been the most prolific producer from the broodmare paddock, and came to Haunui Farm in 2013 having not produced a live foal for two seasons.  She visited Iffraa in 2013, with that mating producing a nice colt that went on to become The Ice Knight, a subsequent two-time winner and Ticklish duly obliged by getting in foal with a foal at foot in 2014 and produced Melt in 2015.

"As a veterinarian, I love a challenge and Ticklish certainly presented that when she came to us in 2013 having not had a foal for a few years," said Haunui Farm's Managing Director and Veterinarian, Mark Chitty.  "It was a big team effort to get her back on track, our farrier Luke did a great job getting her feet right as well so to get her through to have three foals in-a-row was a great result, and then to see The Ice Knight come out and show plenty of abiliyit and then Melt come out and do what she has done is certainly very satisfying," said Mark.  "It's great for Andrew and his family, they're really passionate horse people and they're having a great run with this filly which will hopefully continue for a while yet!"