Darley Retires Iffraaj and Raven's Pass
Darley has pensioned two of its stallions, Iffraaj and Raven's Pass, from covering duties, with both set to retire at their current stud farms.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Equestrian
Darley has announced that its stallions Iffraaj and Raven's Pass are retiring from covering duties, with Iffraaj remaining at Dalham Hall Stud and Raven's Pass at Kildangan Stud. Darley's director of stallions Sam Bullard made the announcement.
Why it matters
The retirements close the covering careers of two stallions with significant records, Iffraaj as a sire of 106 stakes winners and Raven's Pass as a 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic winner. Darley said the time is now right for both to retire.
Iffraaj has sired 106 stakes winners, including 13 individual Group 1 winners, while his covering fee climbed from €12,000 in 2007 to a career-high £40,000 in 2018. Raven's Pass has sired 39 stakes winners, and its daughters have produced four Group 1 winners as broodmare sire.
The players
Darley
Darley is the thoroughbred breeding operation that announced the retirement of its stallions from covering duties.
Sam Bullard
Sam Bullard is Darley's director of stallions who announced the retirements.
The details
Iffraaj won seven of 13 starts as a sprinter-miler for Michael Jarvis and two editions of the Group 2 Park Stakes at Doncaster and York. Raven's Pass won the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic, and both stallions will remain at their current stud farms after retiring from covering.
Timeline
2007: Iffraaj retired to Kildangan with a €12,000 opening fee.
2014 breeding season: Iffraaj's covering fee climbed to €25,000.
2015: Iffraaj relocated to Dalham Hall.
2018: Iffraaj stood at a career-high fee of £40,000.
6 November 2026: Darley announced the retirements from covering duties.
Season Trajectory
Iffraaj's career record as a sire of 106 stakes winners and 13 Group 1 winners places him among the most productive recent sires in the thoroughbred industry. Raven's Pass's 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic win and 39 stakes winners position his retirement as the close of a documented stallion career.
For breeders and owners, the retirements mean Iffraaj and Raven's Pass will no longer be available for new covering contracts. Their daughters and sons already at stud will continue to shape future breeding decisions across the thoroughbred market.
The takeaway
Stallion retirements shift the supply of proven sires available to breeders, so owners planning future matings should account for the reduced covering options from these two stallions.
Further reading
Explore more on Equestrian coverage for context on thoroughbred stallion careers.
