Araafa to stand at Plantation Stud

Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) hero ARAAFA (Mull of Kintyre), a

two-length winner in Thursday's St. James's Palace S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot, has been purchased by Plantation Stud

and will begin his breeding career at the Newmarket farm in 2007. The deal was

brokered by Peter Doyle Bloodstock on behalf of the purchaser and Tony Nerses

for the sellers.

The three-year-old is currently being pointed to the Sussex S. (Eng-G1)

by trainer Jeremy Noseda. He will continue to race in the colors of Saleh Al

Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar.

"We are leasing the horse back to outgoing owners Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad

Al Sagar for the rest of the season, culminating in the Breeders' Cup (Mile

[G1]) in early November," said Kevin Buckley, Plantation's chief executive.

Produced by a full sister to leading sire Pivotal, Araafa will be the first

stallion to stand at the revamped operation. Plantation will keep a majority of

shares in the horse for themselves, although, Buckley added, "a limited number

of shares may be available for major owner/breeders, and a decision will be made

at a later date."