Araafa, a two-time group I winner, will stand at stud in 2007 at Dermot O'Rourke's Plantation Stud near Newmarket, England, but not before completing this year's racing season. The Irish-bred son of Mull of Kintyre is the first stallion bought by Plantation since O'Rourke bought the farm last July. Plantation will lease 3-year-old Araafa to the colt's former owners, Saleh al Homaizi and Imad al Sagar, for racing purposes. Araafa, who will continue to be trained by Jeremy Noseda, is scheduled to run next in the Aug. 2 Cantor Spreadfair Sussex Stakes (Eng-I) at Glorious Goodwood.Araafa captured this year's Boylesports Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) and St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng-I) in consecutive starts for Salel al Homaizi and Imad al Sager. He has won three of seven races and earned $607,912. Plans call for him to contest the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT).Araafa is out of the Polar Falcon mare Resurgence, who is a full sister to major English sire Pivotal. Plantation, once owned by late Lord Howard de Walden, is the former home of major stallion Kris.
