Hawwaam colt Hah Lah Lah romps home at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
One sure fire sign of a good stallion is the ability to uplift mares and if Hawwaam’s winner on Sunday is anything to go by he is doing just that.
The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Hawwaam colt Hah Lah Lah has plenty of substance and looked full of class when winning by 2,50 lengths on debut at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday over 1200m under Craig Zackey.
The Patricia Devine Investments-bred colt is out of the stakes runner up Captain Al mare Moonlight ‘N Roses, who had produced three winners from three foals previously, but one of them won an open maiden (handicap) after not managing better than fifth in five previous starts in Cape Town, another relocated to the East Cape before winning and the other one reached a merit ratig of only 77.
Yet Hal Lah Lah struck as an exciting prospect and had been backed in to 13/10 favourite before romping home, despite not being well away.
Jehan Malherbe is part of the Vasco Syndicate who own him and his Form Bloodstock had splashed out R500,000 on Friday to buy Hah Lah Lah’s full brother at the BSA August Sale.
Hawwaam had only two two-year-old winners last season from 16 runners and they each won only once.
However, this season he has had three winners from eight runners and that includes the Tony Peter-trained Perfect Miracle, who romped in by 6,25 lengths on debut.
The five time G1 winning champion Hawwaam (who is closely related to unbeaten G2 World Pool With Race Coast Debutante winner Princess Of Gaul) had 13 lots selling for an average of R357,308 at the BSA August Sale, including one for R600,000 and two for R500,000.
Hawwam, bred by Wilgerbosdrift Stud where he now stands, is by the six-times champion stallion Silvano out of the Equus Champion Broodmare Halfway To Heaven (Jet Master), who also produced the champion Rainbow Bridge and the dual Gr 1 winner Golden Ducat.
Halfway To Heaven won from 1200m to 1800m including the Gr 3 Prix du Cap over 1400m and the Listed Off To Stud Handicap over 1800m.
Vercingetrix is, of course, also by Silvano, although he has a speedier female line being out of National Assembly mare National Vixen, who was multiple stakes-placed and won from 1000m to 1400m.
Vercingetorix, unlike stamina influence Silvano, has been able to produce precocious types as well as classic champions and stayers.
It looks to date as if Hawwaam’s progeny might take longer to come to hand than Vercingetorix’s, but excitement is building around this sire.
On the downside his progeny are gaining a reputation for being hot.
However, Tienie Prinsloo has one whom he is excited about and whom he says shows no sign of being temperamental.
