Halling (horse)

Halling (March 14, 1991 - February 2, 2016), was a champion racehorse. He was notable for completing the double of the Eclipse Stakes and the International Stakes in both 1995 and 1996.

Background

Halling was sired by Diesis out of the mare Dance Machine.^[1] He was bred by the art collector, Cyril Humphris. The colt was trained in the early part of his career by John Gosden and subsequently by Saeed bin Suroor.

Racing career

1994: three-year-old season

As a three-year-old, Halling got his first win in the August 1994 Harrogate Handicap at Ripon Racecourse. He followed this with three consecutive wins including October's Cambridgeshire Handicap in which he was ridden by Frankie Dettori.

1995: four-year-old season

Halling was sold to Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation in late 1994 and subsequently gained multiple Group 1 successes, starting with the 1995 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park followed by the International Stakes at York, ridden on both occasions by Walter Swinburn. In the 1995 Breeders' Cup Classic, held that year at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, Halling ran eleventh and last after faltering and was wisely eased in the stretch by jockey Swinburn.

1996: five-year-old season

In the spring of 1996 Halling ran fourth to winner Cigar in the 1996 Dubai World Cup then at Longchamp Racecourse in France won the Group One Prix d'Ispahan. He completed the remarkable feat of winning both the Eclipse and International Stakes for the second straight year. He finished his racing career at Newmarket, running second to 1,000 Guineas winner Bosra Sham in the 1996 Champion Stakes.

Halling also won three races on the dirt track at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai. In all, he ran 18 times winning 12 races.

Stud career

Retired to stud, Halling stood at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket from 1997 through 2004 and since 2005 has been at the Emirates Stud Farm in Dubai.^[2] Halling died on 2 February 2016 owing to "the infirmities of old age".^[3]

References