By Daithi Harvey
Haunui Farm in New Zealand have enjoyed terrific success standing Darley shuttler Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic) and the stud has teamed up once again with Darley to stand Belardo (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}}–Danaskaya {Ire}, by Danehill) for the upcoming season. Belardo, bred by Ballylinch Stud, was European Champion 2-year-old in 2014 courtesy of his victory in the G1 Dubai Dewhurst S. Trained by Roger Varian, he added another top level win when beating a quality field in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. at Newbury last year and he is currently halfway through his first season covering mares at Kildangan Stud in Ireland. “We are very excited to have been offered the opportunity to stand Belardo and look forward to joining forces once again with Darley to introduce another exciting young sire to the New Zealand stallion ranks,” announced Haunui Farm's managing director Mark Chitty. “We've had great success with Iffraaj and will follow a very similar strategy in getting Belardo's stud career off to the best possible start here in New Zealand. We are grateful to Sheikh Mohammed and his team for giving us the opportunity to stand Belardo and look forward to assisting in the development of his stallion career as we have with Iffraaj.”
Iffraaj has been represented to great effect this year in the Southern Hemisphere via G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby and G1 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas winner Gingernuts (NZ) and also Jon Snow (NZ) who won the G1 BMW Australian Derby ten days ago. Godolphin's managing director in Australia, Henry Plumptre also commented on the alliance saying, “On behalf of Sheikh Mohammed and everyone at Godolphin, we are delighted that Champion two-year-old Belardo will stand at Haunui Farm in 2017. As a dual Group One winner and grandson of the prolific sire Shamardal, we hope that Belardo will be embraced by New Zealand breeders in the way that they have supported Iffraaj.”
Plumptre continued, “Darley's continuing support of the New Zealand industry is based on the success of New Zealand-bred horses on the race track at the highest level and is endorsed by Sheikh Mohammed. Belardo joins a growing number of Darley stallions in New Zealand and we wish Haunui and their clients every success with him.”
Belardo will stand for a fee of NZ$12,000 + GST alongside Iffraaj, whose fee has risen to NZ$25,000, and another shuttler in Showcasing (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) whose 2017 fee has yet to be announced.
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