Hitak finally broke through at Cork on 20th March 2025, ending what had been a long wait for a first career victory. For a horse of his age and experience, getting off the mark at all is something — plenty of horses never manage it. The question now is whether that breakthrough was a turning point or a one-off, because he has not raced since. With 99 days between his Cork win and his next appearance, he is returning from a break of roughly three months, and we are about to find out.
His recent form — finishing fourth, seventh, fifth, and third in the runs leading up to that win — showed a horse knocking on the door without quite getting through it. Third place suggests he can mix it at a decent level; seventh suggests he can also have an off day. His most frequent jockey is Paddy Hanlon, who has ridden him six times without a win together, which is not unusual given how rarely Hitak has won at all. Interestingly, the one victory came without that combination clicking — a reminder that in racing, the right day matters as much as the right partnership.
Behind the scenes, Hitak is trained by John Joseph Hanlon at Bagenalstown in County Carlow — a yard that has sent out 12 winners this season, so there is clearly form in the place. The trainer knows how to get a horse ready to win. Whether he can get Hitak ready to do it again, and soon after a lengthy absence, is what makes his next run genuinely worth watching.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cork Galloping |
2 | 1 win, 1 other | 23 Nov | 50% |
| Clonmel Sharp |
2 | 1 second, 1 other | 27 Feb | 0% |
| Naas Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 8 Feb | 0% |
| Galway Tight |
1 | 1 other | 3 Aug | 0% |
| Limerick Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 29 Dec | 0% |
| Listowel Sharp |
1 | 1 third | 25 Sep | 0% |
| Fairyhouse Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 4 Nov | 0% |
| Thurles Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 20 Dec | 0% |