Staying sire Hala Bek opened his account at stud thanks to a last-to-first victory by Bonniebek at Pinjarra on Sunday.

Still in his first preparation, the David Harrison trained gelding scored a grinding victory third time out in the Integra Insurance Maiden (2000m).  He was stepping up from a midfield finish over 1400m at Ascot last month.

Bonniebek (3g Hala Bek – Our Big Bonnie by Steel Glow) is a Mungrup Stud homebred and Harrison won numerous city races with his older half-brothers Our Big Marcus (Metal Storm) and Kenbon (Kenvain).

He is the final foal of Our Big Bonnie who was stakes placed in the 1996 Champion Fillies and Sheila Gwynne Stakes at Ascot.

Hala Bek (Ire) is the only son of Halling at stud in Australia.  He raced just three times for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum winning on debut at Newbury before a fourth-place finish in the 2006 English Derby when beaten a nose, a short-head and a nose behind Sir Percy.

After two years on the sidelines, he resumed to win by 7 lengths at Nottingham in July 2008.

“We bought Hala Bek for our own mares,” Mungrup’s Ann Croucher said.  “Even though it’s not a commercial sireline by Australian standards, outside bookings have him averaging around 40 mares a season.”

Hala Bek yearlings entered for the Perth Magic Millions next month include half-relations to Perth stakes winners Beach Express (Lot 299) and Sireeze (Lot 334).