Iffraaj Gelding Ayrton Wins G3 Victoria Handicap

Media Release - Saturday April 16

Aytron brought up a Group III double at Caulfield for Kiwi breds when following on from Group III MRC Easter Cup winner Milford to win the Group III MRC Victoria Handicap.

Ayrton wins the G3 Victoria Handicap - image Grant Courtney

Classy galloper Ayrton sounded an ominous warning to his Queensland Winter Carnival rivals when resuming from a lengthy break to win in good style. 

The four-year-old was having his first run since last September after a spider bite halted his career.

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained galloper was given a perfect run behind the speed by Jamie Kah and accelerated when a gap presented in the straight to defeat Streets of Avalon by 1¼ lengths, with Excelida third.

A son of Iffraaj, Ayrton has now won six of his eight starts and Kah said the horse had improved in his time away from racing.

"He's just improved each time I've ridden him," she said. "From when I first rode him at Bendigo, he felt like a nice horse but didn't give me any exciting feel but today is probably the best he's felt and he accelerated.

"He hasn't just run along in front and kicked away, he's had to stop and go again and if they can keep him ticking along there's no doubt in my mind that in his races he'll be really competitive."

Ayrton  - image Grant Courtney

Price was delighted to see Ayrton commence with a soft win, knowing there is good improvement to come.

“He had one 1200 metre trial. We were trying to fit a race into a Queensland program for him, so usually I don’t come to the races without two trials and I thought ‘well, he’s going to be underdone’,” he said.

Advertisement

“But a beautiful ride and the race worked out perfectly.”

The Cranbourne trainer paid credit to his partner Shona Drechsler along with the South East Vet Clinic as Ayrton faced a challenging road back to health.

“He was at South East Vet Clinic. When they go there sometimes it is a one-way ticket, sometimes not, but always it is intensive treatment,” Price said.

“Big bill, intensive treatment, great vets out there, and then we nursed him on the farm at home.

“Shona and I, she’s done a great job Shona. The horse needs that sort of ‘TLC’, he spent a long time there and he’s come back nice and sound and in one piece and off to Queensland he goes.”

Price confirmed that Ayrton will have a three-race campaign in the sunshine state, including the Gr.2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m), Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) and Gr.2 Q22 (2200m).

Ayrton was bred by Cambridge accountant Greg McCarthy, who remains in the ownership group after a private sale was negotiated by bloodstock agent Phill Cataldo after the horse finished second in his only trial in New Zealand at Te Teko for trainer Lauren Brennan.  – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Neds Victoria Hcp Gr3 1400m

Caulfield Track: Good(3) Time: 1:22.79
1
Ayrton
- 4g Iffraaj (GB) x Odessa (NZ) (Falkirk (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Jamie Kah 54
2
1.3
Streets Of Avalon
- 7g Magnus (AUS) x Kamuniak (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: S P Nichols Rdr: Zac Spain 59
Magnus
3
1.4
Excelida
- 5m Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Lady Sayyida (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 54
4
1.7
Kissonallforcheeks
- 4m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Rosie Rocket (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: D L Morton Rdr: B Mc Dougall 56.5
5
1.9
Skyman
- 6g Mukhadram (GB) x Skyrider (IRE) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: C Newitt 54
6
2.7
Superium
- 5g Verrazano (USA) x Rosie's Halo (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Jye McNeil 54
7
2.8
Hi Stranger
- 5g Zoffany (IRE) x Luxury Suite (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: S Fliedner Rdr: Damien Thornton 55
8
3.2
Foxy Frida
- 4m Foxwedge (AUS) x Family Portrait (AUS) (Excellent Art (GB))
Tnr: Andrew Noblet Rdr: Dean Holland 54
9
3.3
Poland
- 4g So You Think (NZ) x Sun Song (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: R Downey 54
10
3.4
Dr Drill
- 7g Dansili (GB) x Pongee (GB) (Barathea (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ethan Brown 55
11
4.1
I Am Superman
- 6g Footstepsinthesand (GB) x Fastnet Lady (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J Mott 58
12
4.9
Aramayo
- 6g Poet's Voice (GB) x Peruvian (GB) (Diktat (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Craig Williams 55.5
13
5.6
Kahma Lass
- 4m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Distinctive Lass (AUS) (Orientate (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: B Prebble 54
14
5.8
Bermadez
- 5g Tavistock (NZ) x Pikea (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: M D Moroney Rdr: Patrick Moloney 54
15
7.1
Imperial Lad
- 5g All Too Hard (AUS) x Stammer (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: J F Moloney Rdr: Alana Kelly 54
16
19.1
Inverloch
- 8g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Ideal (GB) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: Ms L J Meech 54
More Reading...
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Almanzor Stayer wins G3 Tattersalls Cup
It's been a long time since the  2022 Victoria Derby and some may have wondered whether the winner Manzoice was ever going to win again!
Private Eye’s Half-Brother King’s Secret Wins Again
Although he may never reach the heights of his older half-brother Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and earner of more than $12m to date, connections of King’s Secret (Shalaa) are sure to have plenty of their own fun with the 3yo gelding winning at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Tattersall’s Mile For The Inflictor - Under The Louvre’s Second SW
Third at Listed level before winning at Doomben, the Craig Cousins-trained The Inflictor (Under The Louvre) then tackled the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap, and while not in the same league as winner War Wachine (Harry Angel), the 4yo gelding showed his class on Saturday to win the Listed BRC Tattersall’s Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm.