Un-named (Pierro – Araaja)

Pierro out of Araaja (Ire) filly 2022
5% shares $9,500 – 10% shares $19,000
Kris Lees to Train!!!

This filly comes from one of the best-known families to have raced in Australia in recent years.  

Araaja (Ire) is a ½ sister to the high-quality Group 1 performer Tom Melbourne.  Tom Melbourne won six races and $1,415,585 in prizemoney but it could have been much better with him running second in the Group 1 ATC Epsom Handicap, Group 1 VRC Cantala Stakes, Group 2 ATC Ajax Stakes, Group 2 ATC Tramway Stakes twice, Group 2 GCTC Hollindale Stakes, Group 3 VRC Lexus Stakes, Group 3 ATC Bill Ritchie Stakes and the list goes on.

Araaja’s second dam is the dam of the outstanding stayer and Melbourne Cup winner Fiorente. He is also a successful sire and was Champion Sire in Australia in 2013/14.  He also won the VRC Group 1 Australian Cup.

Araaja was a good race mare winning the Listed Vichy Prix Madame Jean Couturié in France and was placed twice in Listed company in Australia where she won three races.  This is her 3rd foal.  

Araaja has a 2yo full sister to this Pierro filly trained by Edward Cummings who is expecting the filly to get to the races this preparation and is hoping she develops into an Oaks filly.  He spoke very highly of her and as the trainer of Duais knows what a good filly looks like.

Araanja has been well mated which augurs well for her future.

Araanja is by the highly successful broodmare sire Iffraaj (GB) by Zaphonic.  His daughters are represented by 78 stakes horses with the best being the Champion NZ mare Melody Belle and a rising star in NZ racing, the Group 1 winner Molly Bloom. It is early days for Iffraaj as a broodmare sire. 

Zafonic was a very good broodmare sire with his best to race in Australia being the Group 1 winner Takedown and seven times winner Red Cardinal which ran in two Melbourne Cups.  He is much better known in Europe. 

Arranja works well with Pierro with just two daughters of Iffraaj to race by Pierro with the 5yo mare Uncorked winning four races and being Group 3 winner in USA where she now races.  She was also placed 2nd in Group company and 2nd in Group 3 company on 2 November 2024.  

In Australia she ran second in the NJC Max Lees on debut and was second to the Golden Slipper winner Fire Burn at Randwick as well. 

I’m thrilled to have secured her and I am certain Kris Lees will do a great job with her.

Pierro

The filly is by the highly successful sire Pierro. Pierro has sired 68 stakes horses with his conversion rate of Stakes winners to Group 1 winners being 16.7% which is very good.  Compare this with I Am Invincible’s 13.3%, Zoustar 12.5% and Snitzel 13.5%.

Pierro was an outstanding 2yo winning the Golden Slipper Stakes and five other juvenile races.  He was Champion First Season Sire in Australia 2016/17 Season with his best being Arcadia Queen, Regal Power, Shadow Hero, Pierata and Pinot.

Pierro is really making his mark as a broodmare sire with 14 stakes horses from his 52 winners 27%.  This is an extraordinary figure.  Compare this with our Leading Broodmare sire Encosta De Lago with 12.8%.

Kris Lees will train the filly from his Newcastle base but has a Gold Coast base and has regularly conducted successful raids up north including winning the Mode Stakes and Magic Millions Stayers Cup for Prime Thoroughbreds.  This gives him a lot of options and horses I have syndicated with Kris have won almost 200 races.