THE last group-winning son of Danzig still standing in Ireland, the speedy Haatef won half of his eight starts including the Group 2 Diadem Stakes at Ascot, but his racing career was ended prematurely when he sustained a cracked cannon bone soon after his reappearance in the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes as a four-year-old in 2008.

Homebred by Sheikh Hamdan, Haatef retired to Derrinstown Stud and has sired 38 winners of over 60 races and more than €700,000 from his first three crops racing in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Haatef is one of the few stallions retired since 2008 who has had more than 50% winners to runners, a better percentage than Teofilo or Duke Of Marmalade.

Probably his best performer to date is Treaty Of Paris, who defeated The Grey Gatsby in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York. His yearlings have sold for prices up to €110,000.

Haatef made an impressive debut in a maiden race over six furlongs at the Curragh in August 2006, defeating 24 rivals. In his only other start as a two-year-old, he faced a formidable task in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, but ran a fine race to finish fourth of the 15 runners, only three lengths behind European champion Teofilo, with Holy Roman Emperor and Strategic Prince second and third. Vital Equine and Adagio were among the good horses behind him.

Returning in the Group 1 Newmarket 2000 Guineas the next season, Haatef found the mile a little too far for him, but he was within only a few lengths of the winner Cockney Rebel when 10th in a field of 24, ahead of Yellowstone and Adagio.

Two months later he scored at Naas over seven furlongs, then added the Listed Belgrave Stakes over six furlongs at Fairyhouse with a length and a half to spare, before being third in the Group 3 Desmond Stakes at a mile.

Haatef’s most notable triumph came in the Group 2 Diadem Stakes over six furlongs at Ascot on the last day of September, when he was almost last at halfway, but came with a pulverising finishing run to get up in the last few strides to win from Dark Missile and Assertive in fast time, with Balthazaar’s Gift and Captain Marvelous trailing behind in a field of 17 runners.

Timeform rated Haatef as one of the three best three-year-old sprinters trained in Ireland that season.

Danzig, the sire of Haatef, was unbeaten as a racehorse and has sired the remarkable total of 198 stakes winners, no less than 46 of which scored at Group 1 level.

His sons Danehill and Green Desert not only became leading sires, but many of their sons have done likewise and have usually been particularly successful as sires of two-year-olds.

Haatef is one of seven winners produced by his dam Sayedat Alhadh, a daughter of Mr Prospector who scored in the USA. She has produced four stakes winning sprinters, as Haatef’s sister Walayef won the Group 3 Athasi Stakes at the Curragh, while another sister Ulfah preceded Haatef as a winner of the Listed Belgrave Stakes.

Their half-sister Shimah, by Storm Cat, was the joint champion two-year-old filly in Ireland in 2008, after winning the Listed Saoire Stakes at the Curragh and running second in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, and she is dam of Mushir, who won the Listed Rockingham Stakes at York.

Sayedat Alhadh’s brother Kayrawan scored in the Grade 2 Tom Fool Stakes at Belmont Park and is sire of winners, while their dam Muhbubh (by Blushing Groom) was one of the best two-year-old fillies of her year.

She won the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot and is closely related to the ultra-consistent Maraahel, twice successful in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

HAATEF (USA)

Race record: Winner of four races at 2 and 3 years, £110,573, in Ireland and England, from 6 to 7 furlongs, from eight starts, inc. Diadem Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, and Belgrave Stakes, Fairyhouse, L; third in Desmond Stakes, Leopardstown, Gr.3; fourth in Dewhurst Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.1.

Stud record: Retired to stud in 2009. Sire of 38 winners of 61 races and over €700,000, from his first three crops, including Treaty of Paris (Acomb Stakes, York, Gr.3), Sacred Aspect (Tipperary Stakes, L), Achnaha (third Park Express Stakes, Curragh, Gr.3), Hasopop (Coral Sprint Trophy, listed placed 3 times), etc.

Stands at: Derrinstown Stud, Maynooth, Co Kildare, Ireland. Enquiries to Stephen Collins, Jimmy Lenehan or Enda Stanley on (353) 01 6286228, or visit www.derrinstown.com.

Fee: €2,000 (January 1st SLF).