As a 5-year-old at the Gulfstream Park meeting, Istintaj won the six-furlong Mr. Prospector Handicap (gr. III) by two lengths and the Deputy Minister Handicap (gr. III) at 6 1/2 furlongs. Later that year, he ran third in the Maryland Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) behind Disco Rico and Flame Thrower.
Istintaj, a son of Nureyev and multiple grade III winner on the dirt, will stand his first season at Hartley/De Renzo Walmac South near Ocala, Fla. His fee will be $3,000 live foal and a limited number of shares will be sold.Istintaj will stand as property of Jeff and Mary Keckley of El Paso, Texas, and will be managed by Dick Lossen. Istintaj, a 7-year-old son of Nureyev, is out of the winning Riverman mare Mathkurh. He is a half-brother to Asfurah, champion 2-year-old filly in Ireland. A winner of seven of 21 starts in four seasons to race in England, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.S., Istintaj won two stakes and earned $396,111.