By Alan Carasso
Rafeef (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) overcame barrier 12 to win by a little more than three lengths as the 9-5 favorite at Vaal Apr. 7. It was his second win from three career appearances, having run unplaced on debut in the G1 S A Nursery S. in April 2015 prior to sharing the spoils over this course and distance Mar. 3. Rafeef's yearling full-brother topped the third session of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale earlier that day on a final bid of A$1.75 million and will also be raced in South Africa by Sheikh Hamdan's Shadwell Stud (click for sales coverage). A third produce, the now 2-year-old full-sister named Turaathy (SAf), fetched A$675,000 at the 2015 Easter Sale. The horses' dam, trained by Sean Tarry for Chris van Niekerk, was named South African Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old filly in 2006 with wins at home in the G1 Computaform Sprint and G1 Mercury Sprint. She was beaten a half-length into second behind Borderlescott (GB) (Compton Place {GB}) in York's G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. in 2008.
Rafeef (Aus), c, 3, Redoute's Choice (Aus)–National Colour (SAf) (Horse of the Year & Ch. 3yo Filly-SAf, Hwt. Older Mare-Eng at 5-6.5f, MG1SW-SAf, G1SP-Eng, $296,559), by National Assembly. Vaal, 4-7, Hcp., 1200mT, 1:10.32. B-Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd & Klawervlei Stud (NSW). *A$800,000 Ylg '14 INGEAS.
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