Stakes Winning Weekend for Haunui Stallions

It was a solid weekend for the Haunui stallions across the Tasman with BELARDO (IRE) (Lope De Vega) siring his first Group winner in Australia whilst former Haunui stalwart IFFRAAJ (GB) (Zafonic), landed another stakes success with exciting 4YO AYRTON. Whilst in the USA, IFFRAAJ’s best son, RIBCHESTER, landed his second stakes winner at Keeneland.

BERLARDO filly VERONA showed plenty of promise in New Zealand for former trainer Jenna Mahoney. Unlucky not to have been a stakes performer before yesterday, she was dominant over the 2000m trip of the Frank Packer plate with the win signalling her as a leading Queensland Carnival contender for the Maher/Eustace stable.

Last season’s Champion 2YO and First Season Sire, BELARDO’s oldest southern hemisphere crop are just 3YO’s whilst his current season 2YO’s include Karaka Million place getter Fellini.

Haunui Farm’s Managing Director Mark Chitty says, “It was certainly very pleasing to see VERONA land her first stakes win yesterday after some very unlucky runs here in New Zealand. And it was a big thrill for her breeders Dame Wendy and Don Pye who have been such great supporters of Haunui and our stallions – we couldn’t be happier for them.

“BELARDO couldn’t have done much more with his first crop taking out Champion 2YO and First Season Sire honours but it’s obviously important to follow that up so it was great to see him get those points on the board yesterday, especially in Australia.”

Not to be outdone, former Haunui stallion and favourite IFFRAAJ, saw the return of exciting galloper AYRTON to the fray, with a one-and-quarter length win in the G3 Victoria Handicap over 1400m. Off the scene since September, it was an ominous sign for his opposition heading towards the Queensland Carnival.

With IFFRAAJ’s last southern hemisphere crop current yearlings, buyers’ will have one final opportunity to purchase his progeny in next weeks Gavelhouse Plus auction. Lot 75 is a filly by IFFRAAJ out of well-related mare Rockelle, a half-sister to Champion Sprinter/Miler CALVEEN (NZ) (Canny Lad).

BELARDO is also represented in the sale with five lots – three fillies and two colts.

Rounding out the weekend, RIBCHESTER’s 3YO filly RUTHIN, became his second stakes winner from his first northern hemisphere crop with a tidy win on seasonal debut in the Listed TVG Limestone Stakes (1100m) at Keeneland.

RIBCHESTER’s first southern hemisphere crop are just 2YO’s and with three recent trial winners in Sydney, the Champion Miler and 4-time G1 winner looks set to start making his presence felt in the Australasian sire ranks over the coming weeks.

Mark says, “IFFRAAJ’s influence as a proven sire, sire of sires and broodmare sire, is seeing him really starting to create a legacy in both hemispheres. It would be nice to think that as his best son on the track, RIBCHESTER could start making his own mark as a sire given the outstanding success we have seen from WOOTTON BASSETT and IFFRAAJ’s other sire sons.”

BELARDO and RIBCHESTER are set to return to Haunui Farm in 2022 with their service fees to be announced over the coming weeks.