Photo: Race Images South
Angels Halo (NZ) (Proisir) provided the headline act in another successful weekend for Rich Hill Stud stallion Proisir, winning the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
The Hollie Elliot-trained filly became the reigning champion sire’s seventh individual Group One winner, while his daughter Hyperbolic added an Australian stakes success in the Listed Ladies’ Day Cup (1500m) at Hawkesbury.
For Angels Halo’s breeders and part-owners Mark and Sharon Hardy, the Guineas victory was the reward for years of involvement in racing and breeding.
The Wellington couple bred the filly under their Hospitality Rentals Ltd banner and race her with their family.
After enduring frustrating passages in her lead-up races, Angels Halo enjoyed a change of fortune at Riccarton under Masa Hashizume.
“She was a bit unlucky in the running in her previous couple of races, particularly the last one (Gr.2 Sarten Memorial) and she was only four and a-half lengths off the winner,” Mark Hardy said.
“It was a great result at Riccarton, she’s always been special to us. She’s a very relaxed horse and a lovely filly.”
Photo: supplied
Hardy’s association with the thoroughbred industry stretches back several decades.
“I’ve been racing horses for 20 or 30 years, probably longer, and breeding for about 15 to 20 years,” he said.
Angels Halo is out of the I Am Invincible mare Mongolian Angel, who has since been sold. Her mating with Proisir followed input from several trusted advisers, with Hardy’s son Culham also playing an influential role.
“I’ve known (Rich Hill Communications Manager) Karl Mihaljevich for a long time, I do a lot with Windsor Park Stud and Club Med Lodge’s Vicky and Terry Pascoe have been very good and do all our agisting, so we took advice from all over,” Hardy said.
“My son Culham studies pedigrees like no-one’s business and knows all the breeding and the Proisir one looked particularly good.”
The Guineas success also carried Angels Halo to the top of the NZB Filly of the Year Series standings, although her connections will let the filly’s wellbeing guide their next move.
“All my kids and sons-in-law are in the filly so it’s been great. She’s leading the Filly of the Year series now so it would be nice to keep that going, but it’s what’s best for the horse and we’ll have a good chat with Hollie and see what comes up.”
Across the Tasman, Hyperbolic (NZ) (Proisir) secured a deserved first stakes victory for Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup after previously recording multiple black-type placings.
The six-time winner was co-bred by Rich Hill Stud director Alan Galbraith KC and purchased by Widdup for $230,000 from the farm’s Karaka draft.
Out of the Sir Percy mare Piazza (NZ), Hyperbolic is closely related to another Galbraith-bred son of Proisir in Riodini (NZ), who finished three-quarters of a length behind Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) in the 2021 Gr.1 George Main Stakes (1600m).
