Photo: Steve Hart
Hilal has received a warm welcome from breeders with Grangewilliam Stud close to putting up the no vacancy sign on their newcomer.
The regally bred son of Fastnet Rock will stand his first season at Mark and Jane Corcoran’s operation at Waitotara following a decorated racing career across the Tasman.
“We have been very happy with the response, we have had really good support and he’s got over 100 mares booked to him already,” Mark Corcoran said.
“I think I will limit him to 120, so he’s not far off. We have got some of the bigger studs involved, which has been great, and well-known smaller breeders.
“The horse will get the numbers to kick him off, it’s very pleasing because when you go out and buy these horses you put your cards on the table and hope people agree with your judgment.
“Fortunately, the breeders have come on board and everyone who has seen him have liked what they’ve seen so it’s a really pleasing response.”
Bred and raced by Emirates Park, Hilal won three races from the stable of John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes and showed the precocious side of his nature with a debut juvenile victory.
He also finished runner-up in the Gr.1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) behind champion performer Anamoe and was second in the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) to Captivant.
The following season, Hilal stamped his quality with successes in the Gr.2 Stan Fox Stakes (1600m) and the A$1million Bondi Stakes (1600m) and placed in the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m).
He also finished fourth in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m) as a four-year-old, again chasing home Anamoe, with Fangirl and Profondo filling the minor placings and Group One winners Hinged, Icebath, Forbidden Love and Mo’Unga behind him.
Hilal was retired as a three-time winner and seven placings swelled his career earnings to more than A$1.3 million.
“I was approached by David Mee, of Pinhook Bloodstock, who put us on to the horse and Jane and I went over to see Hilal when he was spelling just out of Sydney,” Corcoran said.
“We liked what we saw and Dave Keenan was over there and he vetted him for us, he really liked what he saw as well and came on board and bought a breeding right, so that was great.”
Hilal arrived at Grangewilliam in early May and quickly settled into his new surroundings.
“He has let down really nicely, he’s a great looking horse with plenty of scope, length and strength about him,” Corcoran said.
“He’s a muscular horse and not too heavy for a Fastnet Rock. He’s been a very easy horse to deal with.”
Hilal stands at $7,500 + GST alongside the proven trio of Derryn, The Bold One and Zed.
“We’re going to have a busy season and the other boys are all going well,” Corcoran said.
“Derryn keeps getting the winners with good horses like Spencer going around, The Bold One has got some pretty exciting horses kicking off in the spring and Zed keeps doing what he does best.”
Hilal is a son of the unraced Encosta De Lago mare Salma and the outstanding family of multiple Group One winner and champion sire Redoute’s Choice.
“We’ve got a good team, it’s a good stallion line-up and Hilal would be the best credentialled horse we have stood,” Corcoran said.
“His progeny will be ideal to target any number of the bonus races in New Zealand like the Karaka Millions and the NZB Kiwi, among others.”
