Hasty Hall

Super Stallion

Hasty Hall reached the pinnacle of his commercial stud career on Monday when his colt yearling Rhyds Megastar fetched £51k at public auction. Now approaching 17 and with his 12th crop having just gone on sale I feel compelled to pay tribute to this phenomenal sire as I fear that its only when he’s no longer available will his greatness be truly appreciated after all its the British psyche to build things up to knock them down and Hasty Hall is not without his critics.

So let’s examine the facts. From his first crop in 2003 he produced Rhyds Hallstar, Ladyford Lad and Red Casino. Between them they have amassed almost £40k in prize money and at the grand age of 11 two are still racing and are regularly present in the business end of races.
The star from 2004 foals is Rhyds Desire. A very successful 2YO and 3YO who has graced fields over 100 times, has 40 plus wins and over £44k in prize money.
In 2005 he produced 27 foals the most successful being Rhyds Puzzle, a champion 3YO and a Derby winner. Other talented multiple winners included Oakview Jack, Rhyds Heartbeat and Tommys Gold.
2006 saw 21 foals born with Rhyds Phantom being a champion 2YO, Rhyds Destiny was a champion 3YO and 4YO whilst Lyons Stephen was a champion 4YO and Aberyswyth winner. Jill & Jones was a talented and successful race mare.
2007 saw 49 foals born including the so far unsurpassed 3YO Rhyds Fivestar. Other multiple winners included Rhyds Ponder (Appleby winner) Rhyds Hasty Affair (Musselburgh winner) and Rhyds Treasure a top juvenile filly.
2008 saw 54 foals born – Rhyds Topaz was the star of this crop a truly great filly who beat all before her. Other cracking racehorses include Duggans Pride, Southsideaffection and Rhyds Boots.
2009 saw a reduction in foals born as The One Night Pan was given his chance out of the 26 foals born. Instant Coffee showed huge promise before injury curtailed her career, whilst Afan Romeo was a multiple race winner.
Out of 31 foals 2010 produced Rhyds Solution a Breeders Crown winner in 1.59 at Tir Prince other winners have included Laneside Lotus, Lyons Nant Hall, Rhyds Dilemma and Blackwell Hallstar.
2011 and the numbers were back up to 40 foals born and a cracking crop included three super fillies Rhyds Art, Rhyds Rainbow and Frisco Blue Moon along with Ayr Regal and Rhyds Design to represent the colts.
2012 saw 22 foals born with Titanium securing the now coveted Vincent Delaney 2YO race, with Lyons Premier also showing great promise.

The fact that a combined £69k was spent on two of his progeny in 2014 shows that he is still very much at the top of the tree of Sires in the UK and this stallions success should be fully acknowledged. I for one hope that someone has the courage to breed on with one of his sons as he has lightning in his genes and it would be a shame if this sire line were to end when the great horse is no more. One thing is for sure we will be seeing Hasty Hall in the maternal line of race horses bred in the UK for the rest of our lifetimes such is the impact he has had on the breed on these shores.

If there was a UK Hall of Fame, HASTY HALL would top the bill.

Eric Witherspoon