This magnificent print, by one of the world’s foremost equestrian artists, is a beautiful representation of a phenomenally successful broodmare. Hasili’s pairing with Danehill produced a series of racehorses which had prolific success in the Breeders’ Cup; Crawford’s caption (“Hasili with BC foal by Danhill”) indicates that the foal shown here, gamely trying to keep up with its mother, is another to carry on the proud tradition.
Hasili’s pedigree, while respectable, gave no real clue as to the extraordinary success that she was to achieve when she retired to stud, after a decent racing career that included a victory in the listed Prix des Sablonnets. While he did not sire all her offspring, the five horses that Hasili bore Danehill have ensured her magnificent reputation, with all of them recording victories in graded or group races.
In 2004, the year before this charming painting’s execution, Hasili won a landslide victory in the OBI’s Broodmare of the Year competition. She was acclaimed for her unrivalled record: of her first five foals, three were group or grade one winners, and the remaining two multiple Champions or Highweights. It is a record that she has gone on to surpass; and one that is superbly memorialised in this attractive print.
