Cover image courtesy of Vinery Stud
Grangewilliam Stud announced that on Thursday morning, the first foal by their resident stallion, Group Two winner and multiple Group One performer Hilal, had arrived - a filly out of the well-related No Nay Never mare La Frox, bred by Shaun and Anna O’Leary.
La Frox has a nice current pedigree to complement Hilal
La Frox (No Nay Never {USA}) was placed on the track and is a half-sister to the handy Bourbon Proof (Justify {USA}), who last season won over a mile and placed in the G2 Avondale Guineas, G2 Waikato Guineas, Listed Trevor Memorial Stakes, and ran fourth in the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic.
La Frox’s dual winning dam Show And Tell (NZ) (Exceed And Excel) is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Showbeel (NZ) (Savabeel), and a three-quarter-sister to Goldilicious (NZ) (Helmet), the dam of G3 Easter Cup winner Torranzino (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}).
Gallery: Hilal x La Frox filly, images supplied
“His (Hilal) first foal is a filly born at Shaun and Anna O’Leary’s, of Who Shot Thebarman fame,” Corcoran said.
“I’ve just been around to see her and she’s a lovely foal. She is the second foal out of a No Nay Never mare called La Frox, and I was very pleased with what I saw.
“The foal is very well put together. She is well-muscled with good size, good strong type, nice head and good bone.
“The foal (Hilal x La Frox filly) is very well put together. She is well-muscled with good size, good strong type, nice head and good bone.” - Marc Corcoran
“Often when a foal is born you tell the breeders to come back in a week and have a look, but this filly at 12 hours old is a real cracker, a really good type and nice and correct.
“If they all look like that, I’d be very happy.”
“If they all look like that, I’d be very happy.” - Marc Corcoran
Hilal: Bred to be good, and delivered
Hilal was a Kensington maiden winner over 1100m in February of his juvenile season, defeating King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) before finishing runner-up in the G2 Skyline Stakes. He then produced strong Group One form, finishing second to Anamoe in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes, and was narrowly beaten by Captivant when runner-up in the G1 Champagne Stakes.
Hilal | Standing at Grangewilliam Stud
As a spring 3-year-old, Hilal won the G2 Stan Fox Stakes and the $1 million Bondi Stakes over the mile distance. During his autumn campaign, he was beaten a neck by Anamoe in the G2 Hobartville Stakes, and finished third behind Converge (Frankel {GB}) and Anamoe in the G1 Randwick Guineas.
“Hilal is a lovely physical type. He is a strong horse with a good head for a Fastnet Rock, and he has plenty of presence.”
Hilal has been well-supported in the barn
A well-bred son of Fastnet Rock, Hilal covered a book of 137 mares last spring.
“It gives him every opportunity,” Corcoran said.
“We sold breeding rights in him, which was a good way for us to get numbers to the horse initially and a great way for the breeders to get into a stallion at a good price for life.
“He was well supported beyond those breeding rights, and we were really pleased with the support.
“He (Hilal) was well supported beyond those breeding rights, and we were really pleased with the support.” - Marc Corcoran
“He’s got a nice book again and should serve a similar number to last year. As expected with a stallion standing at NZ$8,000 (plus GST), he hasn’t had an elite book of mares, but he has served some nice winning mares and some stakes winners and performers.
“If good enough, he will prove himself, he has been given a good chance.”
Marc Corcoran | Image courtesy of New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeder's Association
A ‘Golden’ pedigree boost
Hilal’s profile received a major boost this autumn, when his half-sister Marhoona (Snitzel) was first past the post in the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Damian Lane.
“There has been a fair bit of upside since last spring with his half-sister Marhoona winning the Golden Slipper,” Corcoran said.
“Straight after the Golden Slipper win, we had a few mares booked in, and his bookings are really solid to this point. He is well ahead of where he was this time last year, and I think he will be well supported again, especially with foals like that.
Marhoona winning the G1 Golden Slipper | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Anyone that has a look at that filly could only be impressed.”
It’s not just Marhoona and Hilal who stand out on the page. Their dam Salma (Encosta De Lago) has also produced Listed winners Salateen (I Am Invincible) and Trojan Harbour (Harbour Watch {Ire}).
Salma also hails from a powerful family line that includes the great Redoute’s Choice, as well as fellow Group One winners Schwarz, Shoals (Fastnet Rock), Manhattan Rain, Platinum Scissors, Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}), Umatilla, Hurricane Sky, and Al Maher.
