Iraklis, who had a record of 1:54.2, totted up $1,010,042 in stakes, of which he won $390,000 in Australia.

He was a champion pacer in every respect. He established a race record of 1:54.2 in winning the 1996 Miracle Mile at Harold Park, despite dragging a flat tyre for the last lap, and hoisted a 2:01.1 mile rate in capturing the NZ Cup the following year.

Iraklis won the NZ Free-For-All and Inter-Dominion heats at Auckland and Adelaide and was twice placed in Inter-Dominion grand finals. He was top racehorse from two to six years.

By a champion sire in Vance Hanover, he is out of a top broodmare in Tuapeka Star, dam also of Blue And Royal 1:51.6, Ermis 1:59, Braeside Seel Star 1:58.7, Marsa Star and others.

Tuapeka Star had a record of 1:59, and was a Knowing Bret mare from Sakuntala (by Armbro Del), the dam of 13 winners, and tracing to Norice, who founded one of the greatest sources of speed of any NZ Stud Book family.

Iraklis oldest stock are four-years-old and they include a smart filly in Indianna Rose, winner of the SA Southern Cross 2YO final and almost $90,000 in stakes, Strezlecki Warrior (Tas. St Leger), the VicBred heat winner Vinokourov 1:57.6, Ark Princess (Cadbury Sweepstakes final), Irak Attack 1:59 (8 NZ wins to date) and the metropolitan winners Lavros Vision, Ideal Lavros and Killinchy Rose.

Iraklis will stand for the next two seasons at Stallion Station for a fee of $2000 (plus GST).

Peter Wharton