By Alan Carasso
Sent off the red-hot favorite 3-10 after placing in each of her first three starts at two for trainer Mike de Kock, Ektifaa (Aus) (More Than Ready) came away late to score by two handy lengths while racing first-up since finishing runner-up over course and distance May 17. Ektifaa was bred in New South Wales by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds, breeder of superstar mare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) and her 'TDN Rising Star' half-brother El Divino (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), the latter of which Camilleri races in partnership with Widden Stud. Ektifaa was consigned by to the 2015 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by Segenhoe Stud as agent for Fairway and was hammered down to Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Australia for A$600,000. Produced by a winning half-sister to champion New Zealand sprinter and miler Calveen (NZ) (Canny Lad {Aus}), Ektifaa descends from the female family of the Group 1-winning half-siblings Dr Grace (Aus) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and Asia (Aus) (Danehill). He has a 2-year-old Sepoy (Aus) half-sister named Stellara (Aus) and a yearling half-brother by More Than Ready's G1 Golden Slipper-winning son Sebring (Aus). Stellar Vinia is currently due to the latter stallion on a mid-October cover date.
Ektifaa (Aus), f, 3, More Than Ready–Stellar Vinia (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus). Vaal, 9-22, Maiden Plate, 1200mT, 1:10.71. B-Fairway Thoroughbreds (NSW).
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