WE all know what a loss Jeremy was to National Hunt breeding, and that son of Danehill Dancer (Danehill) spent the latter part of his shortened stud career at Denis Hickey’s Garryrichard Stud. Little wonder that Denis would seek out another son of Danehill Dancer to replace Jeremy, and he found him in Hillstar.

Early results from Hillstar’s runners would indicate that Garryrichard could well have unearthed another gem. His stores made up to €70,000 at the Derby Sale last year, and buyers of his stock include Mags O’Toole, Monbeg Stables, Kevin Ross, Highflyer Bloodstock and Gavin Cromwell. His first runners, from limited numbers, include the listed-placed bumper mare Hillfinch and the listed-placed hurdler Another Choice.

A major group/graded stakes winner on both sides of the Atlantic, Hillstar was trained by Sir Michael Stoute. He was speedy enough to score as a two-year-old, when he won comfortably over seven furlongs at Leicester second time out. Improving rapidly the next year, he was second twice before defeating Battle Of Marengo in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

After that he was third to German champion Novellist and classic winner Trading Leather in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, ahead of champion Cirrus Des Aigles, before a respectable fourth in the Group 1 Juddmonte International. Timeform rated Hillstar on 121, level with Leading Light, and he was on 118 in the World Rankings, with only three European colts above him in his category.

Hillstar was second on four of his first five starts at four, all group races, and these were the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes, the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes, the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes and the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes, before winning the Group 3 Arc Trial at Newbury. His consistency was rewarded when he travelled to Woodbine in Canada for the $1 million Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes over a mile and a half, scoring comfortably from an international field and taking his total earnings to £774,621.

Danehill Dancer was the champion sire in Britain and Ireland in 2009 and was the leading sire of two-year-olds on three occasions. A leading sire of classic winners in Europe, his sire sons include Mastercraftsman, Choisir, Planteur, and Sumbal.

Crystal Star, the dam of Hillstar, was a daughter of Mark Of Esteem (Darshaan), and she won the Listed Radley Stakes at Newbury as a two-year-old. She has produced three other blacktype winners, including the filly Crystal Capella (Cape Cross), whose eight wins include the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes. However, more significantly, Hillstar is a half-brother to champion Crystal Ocean (Sea The Stars), winner of the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes and now a National Hunt stallion.

HILLSTAR (GB), Bay 2010. Won four races, £774,622, from 7 furlongs to 1½ miles, 2 to 4 years including, Pattison Canadian International Stakes, Woodbine, Gr.1, King Edward VII Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup Arc Trial, Newbury, Gr.3, also placed second in Boylesports Princess of Wales’s Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.2, Hardwicke Stakes, Ascot, Gr.2, Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes, Haydock Park, Gr.3, Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes, Chester, Gr.3, and third in King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1, Gigaset Cumberland Lodge Stakes, Ascot, Gr.3.

Retired to Stud in 2016, and sire of the winners of 6 races, and £29,256, and sire of the winners of 3 races, and £43,313 under N.H. Rules, including Another Choice (IRE), and Hillfinch (GB)

Stands at: Garryrichard Stud, Foulksmills, Co Wexford, Ireland

Contact: Denis Hickey

Telephone: +353 52 565611 or +353 87 9175744

Email: garryrichardstud2020@gmail.com

Fee: €2,500