Dalakhani, Iffraaj Hit 50 Stakes-Winner Milestone

Top international sires Dalakhani and Iffraaj reached important milestones in France during the previous week, with each represented by his 50th black-type stakes winner.

Aga Khan homebred Dalakhani, now a pensioner at Haras de Bonneval in the Normandy region, got his 50th stakes winner July 14 when 3-year-old son Shakeel won the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (G1) at Saint-Cloud.

Bred by The Aga Khan Studs, Shakeel is the first foal and first winner out of the unraced Medicean daughter Shamiyra, who is a half sister to group 3 winner Shemiyla (Dalakhani). The colt is Dalakhani's first group winner of the year and his second black-type winner for 2017. Second Step, a gelded son out of My Dark Rosaleen (Sadler's Wells), won the Smarter Bets at Matchbook Tapster Stakes at Goodwood May 27.

Dalakhani is a shining example of the Aga Khan breeding program, being the son of homebred champion Darshaan and out of homebred stakes winner Daltawa (Miswaki), who is also the dam of champion Daylami (Doyoun), group 1 winner Dawalan (Azamour), group 3 winner Dalghar (Anabaa), and black-type stakes winner Daymarti (Caerleon).

As a racehorse, Dalakhani won seven group races, including four group 1's: the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere, Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby), Criterium International, and Prix Lupin. He won eight of nine starts and retired with $2,496,059 in earnings.

As a sire, Dalakhani's 50 black-type stakes winners include 29 graded/group winners and 2008 champion grass horse Conduit, who won consecutive editions of the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) in 2008 and 2009. Dalakhani has total progeny earnings to date of more than $32.5 million.

Iffraaj is a Darley homebred who got his 50th stakes winner July 17 when his 3-year-old daughter Araaja won the Prix Madame Jean Couturie at Vichy.

Araaja, who was bred in Ireland by Rathregan Stud, is the second stakes winner produced by Roshanak (Spinning World). The filly is a half sister to group-placed stakes winner Tom Melbourne (Dylan Thomas) and three other winners.

Bred by Darley and raced in Godolphin blue, Iffraaj won three group 2 stakes in England and was second in the group 1 Darley July Cup at Newmarket in 2006. He compiled a 7-1-1 race record out of 13 starts and earned $695,587.

As a sire, the now 16-year-old son of Zafonic has 24 graded/group winners and multiple New Zealand champion Turn Me Loose among his 50 stakes winners. Iffraaj has had a strong racing year so far, getting 11 black-type winners through July 17, which includes Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) and Queen Anne Stakes (G1) winner Ribchester. The sire's total progeny earnings to date exceed $37.4 million.

Iffraaj stands at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud in England for £27,500.