Abrafo Justifies Favouritism

Breaking through at his third start, Abrafo (3 g Per Incanto – Not A Jaffa, by Iffraaj) confirmed his favouritism in the A$32,000 Seymour IGA & Liquor Maiden 1429 metres on 3 February at Seymour (Victoria).

Coming from last to win a jump out on 26 January at Cranbourne, with Champion jockey Craig Williams aboard, the same pairing combined for the first-up run and had the benefit of drawing barrier one.

Able to lead and dictate terms throughout, Abrafo had Sunburnt Country (Too Darn Hot) issue a challenge in the straight, after trailing, but had the reserves to draw out late for a three-quarter length win.

On Good4 footing, the well-related Abrafo ran 1429 metres in 1:26.8 and was all the rage in betting to pay $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

Williams also combined recently with another winner for Te Akau, when Belle Cheval stylishly put away a good field in the Group 3 Almanzor Trophy (1200m) on Karaka Millions' Night (24 Jan.) at Ellerslie - and last Saturday (31 Jan.) he guided Damask Rose into second with a very good fresh-up performance in the Group 3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield. 

Owned by Howard and Carol Riley, Abrafo was purchased for $230,000 by David Ellis CNZM at the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale, from the draft of Woburn Farm, and is a direct descendant of sensational broodmare Bagalollies (Zabeel).

“It was really good to get that fresh-up win, today, for Howard and Carol Riley, who have two in the stable with us,” said trainer Mark Walker.

“He’s a horse that we gave one start as a two-year-old, in a strong form race. We’d kept him as a colt before gelding him this season and he’s still a little bit wayward and green.

“Craig (Williams) rode him perfectly, controlled the race, and he won in a manner that should give the horse a lot of confidence.

“He’s shown ability all the way through, he's a beautiful type, and he’s got the potential to develop into a good staying horse.”

Abrafo is by Per Incanto, a son of Street Cry (Machiavellian), the same sire at the incomparable Winx, winner of 25 Group One races.

Per Incanto is continuing to grow in stature as an elite international sire, which culminated with him winning the Centaine Award for top worldwide progeny earnings in 2024/25. The $20 million in prize money won by his offspring surpassed that of 10-time Champion Sire Savabeel (Zabeel).

The dam of Abrafo, Not A Jaffa (Iffraaj), is a half-sister to Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther (Tavistock), both out of dual New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Bagalollies (Zabeel), the dam of four individual winners (27 wins), including nine Group victories.

Bagalollies is also the dam of Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) winner Toffee Tongue (Tavistock), Group 3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) winner Gobstopper (Tavistock), and Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) placed Milseain (Tavistock).

And like Champion Two-Year-Old, dual Horse of the Year, and national Group One record-holder (14) Melody Belle, also purchased by Ellis, Abrafo is out a mare by proven international sire Iffraaj (Zafonic). 

Progeny from the family of Abrafo are highly sought after, with $290,000 paid for a filly out of Not A Jaffa, and $500,000 for Toffee Tongue, out of Bagalollies. 

Abrafo is represented in blood by terrific stallion influences: crossed with Mr. Prospector, Ahonoora, Nureyev, and Northern Dancer.

Abrafo was strapped by Adrian Hug.  

Photo: Abrafo at the NZB Ready To Run Sale