Lot 301's dam is a half to Gr2 winner Villa Verde (pic: Steve Hart)

Hilldene Farm is a relatively new but imposing player in the Australasian bloodstock market. Based in Hilldene and part of the prolific winner-producing region of Victoria’s North-East, it has been adding serious commercial depth to a burgeoning broodmare band over the past 12 months. Central is its underlying mission to acquire a top end, boutique broodmare band.

Hilldene’s 2018 Melbourne Premier draft (4 colts and 4 fillies) certainly sets a high water-mark for future drafts with a star-studded selection of established sire strength and emerging sire talent.

Opening with Lot 86, the scene is set with the Fastnet Rock filly from Galileo mare She’s Sirius, the half-sister to Listed winner Spectrolite. This is simply a cross that works. 47 winners from 57 runners at 26% SW/R, including 6 Gr1 winners. The mating also has embedded speed with 2^nddam Canicula by noted speed influence Rory’s Jester and a half-sister to Gr2 Light Fingers 3^rd Hitapotomoss.

Just shy of 100 lots later (Lot 182) is the Shooting To Win filly from Tambo’s Jewel. A winner of the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas (and following in the footsteps of outstanding sires such as Lonhro and Redoute’s Choice), Shooting To Win’s oldest are yearlings. This filly is the first foal of a 9-time winning mare and hails from the family of dual Gr1 winner Rebel Raider, Gr3 winning Shamoline Warrior and Listed winner / Gr2 runner-up Cadillac Mountain. It’s a family with speed (Blue Diamond Prelude runner-up Haybah) and obviously the capacity to extend in trip to a middle distance and beyond.

Lot 280 is by Global Glamour’s sire in Star Witness from Sebring mare Bring the Girl, a daughter of talented stakes winner Pleasantsundaygirl. This is a really athletic and precocious family that traces to 4^th dam Furama Nights, a Gr3 winner and Gr1 NZ 1000 Guineas runner-up.

Soon after Lot 297 will be centre stage. She’s the filly by tank-like Gr1 winning sprinter and Champion Sire Choisir from Centafaith, a half-sister to Gr3 placed colt Centagon. It’s a solid winner-producing family headed by 6-time winner producer and stakes winner Centaleigh.

Lot 301 is a colt with serious appeal and the expectation of serious speed. Sire Not A Single Doubt is obviously a top-end commercial option and sire of two of the past 5 Gr1 Blue Diamond winners in Miracles of Life and Extreme Choice. From Thorn Park mare Chik Chik Boom, a winner at 1000m and half-sister to the flying Gr2 Challenge Stakes winner Villa Verde (also by Not A Single Doubt), the remainder of the family is also dripping in precocity. 3^rd dam Sushi Rocket is a half-sister to legendary 2YO producing sire Rory’s Jester and tracks to Champion 2YO and 3YO Filly and Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Ha Ha.

The quality continues with Lot 344 being the colt by All Too Hard from dual Gr1 winner Dorabella. With 1 to race for the Gr3 Gloaming Stakes placed Coral Coast, the omens are positive for this colt.

The second last offering in the Hilldene draft is Lot 456, the colt by red hot first crop yearling sire Deep Field from Irish import Kerimba (by Sinndar). The dam has the runs on the board already with Listed winner and Gr2 placed Cathay Lady as well as stakes placed filly Extensible. Second dam Kerita was a Gr3 winner in the UK and has produced a thick branch of black type success.

The depth in this draft carries through to the final Lot (533) and the colt by Champion Sire Snitzel from More Than Ready mare More Than Real. Again, this is another proven cross with 13 winners from 14 runners. Plus, the dam not only won the prestigious Gr2 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf but has already produced Listed winner Miss Debutante. This is a strong US family that includes second dam and Gr1 Kentucky Oaks 4^thMiss Seffens.