Captain Gerrard and Red Jazz purchased by Iranian owners

Federico Barberini strikes the deal for the two proven stallions

Alpha Delphini: son of Captain Gerrard wins the NunthorpeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Captain Gerrard, sire of last year's Nunthorpe hero Alpha Delphini, and Red Jazz, source of smart sprinter Snazzy Jazzy, have been sold to Iranian owners.

Bloodstock agent Federico Barberini was responsible for the purchase of the two stallions on behalf of Hamid Khalili, a Melbourne-based architecture lecturer, and Daniel Jabbari, another architect who stands the Group 1-winning Arabian stallion Aim South at Haras de Thouars in France.

Last year the business partners bought United Color, a son of Ghostzapper who finished third in the Golden Shaheen and has taken up stud duty in Tehran.

Captain Gerrard will now head to Iran from Mickley Stud, while Red Jazz will spend one more season at Gestut Lindenhof in Germany, where he was transferred to this year having started his second career at Ballyhane Stud.

Jabbari and Khalili said in a statement: “We were interested in purchasing a stallion by Oasis Dream and Federico suggested Captain Gerrard. We found out that he is an international sire, has produced many winners in various countries and has had a remarkable success rate in Europe and Australia.

“In addition, his progeny are precocious, very fast and muscular with good conformation, but not overly big. They have a good record over five and six furlongs on good to firmer going, which means they have the right profile for racing in Iran and we're glad that he can contribute to the quality of the breeding industry there.”

The 14-year-old Captain Gerrard, a dual Group 3-winning sprinter in his own racing career, has supplied 74 winners from 172 runners at a clip of 43 per cent according to Weatherbys statistics.

Besides Alpha Delphini, he has also supplied Qatar Derby runner-up Gerrard's Quest and the Listed-placed Gea And Tea and Wee Jean.

Red Jazz, a 12-year-old son of Johannesburg whose finest hour came with victory in the Challenge Stakes, has sired 48 winners from 106 runners for a strike-rate of 45 per cent.

He has been represented by two stakes scorers in Snazzy Jazzy and Urban Beat.

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