Godolphin’s Group 1 winning racehorse and sire Halling (USA) has died at Dalham Hall Stud aged 25.

His only sire son in Australia is Mungrup Stud stallion Hala Bek.

“It’s very sad news,” Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said.  “Halling did a great job for us winning five Group 1 races.  He was a great stallion, too.

“Everybody loved him here and so did Sheikh Mohammed.  It’s like losing a friend, but he lived a long and happy life and there are still some of his babies to look forward to.”

Halling (Diesis – Dance Machine by Green Dancer) swiftly established himself as a Group 1 regular in 1995 after coming out on top of a titanic battle with Singspiel in the Coral-Eclipse before cruising home in the Juddmonte International.  He doubled up in both events the following year and added the Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp.

Retired in 1997, he sired more than 50 stakes winners including last year’s runaway Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs as well as top-level gallopers Cavalryman, Cutlass Bay and Empoli.

Mungrup Stud resident Hala Bek (Ire) 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.

Hala Bek’s oldest progeny are four year-olds and his first winner landed this time last year when the David Harrison trained Bonniebek broke through at Pinjarra.

HALLING