Halling (horse)

Halling
Sire	Diesis
Grandsire	Sharpen Up
Dam	Dance Machine
Damsire	Green Dancer
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1991
Country	United States
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Cyril Humphris
Owner	Cyril Humphris Godolphin Racing (12/1994)
Trainer	John Gosden Saeed bin Suroor (12/1994)
Record	18: 12-1-0
Earnings	$1,332,651
Major wins
Cambridgeshire Handicap (1994) Al Maktoum Challenge, Round 1 (1995) Eclipse Stakes (1995, 1996) International Stakes (1995, 1996) Prix d'Ispahan (1996)
Awards
European Champion Older Horse (1996)

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. 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 Hilal Ibrahim in Dubai and then 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 two further victories, including the Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket in October, ridden by Frankie Dettori.

1995: four-year-old season

Halling was transferred 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 was unplaced behind 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 four 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 at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket in 1997–2004 and in 2005–07 has been at the Emirates Stud Farm in Dubai. Returned at Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket in 2008–2014 Pensioned from Stud Duties in 2014Died on 2 February 2016 owing to "the infirmities of old age". His offspring included Jack Hobbs, Norse Dancer, Cavalryman and Opinion Poll (Goodwood Cup).