Danehill (horse)
Encyclopedia
Danehill was a Thoroughbred
racehorse
who was bred in the United States
. During his phenomenal stud career Danehill became a champion sire on both sides of the Equator
. He was the leading sire in Australia nine times, the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland three times, and the leading sire in France twice.
He was a bay stallion by leading sire Danzig
(by Northern Dancer
) out of Razyana (by His Majesty). Danehill was inbred twice to Natalma in the third generation (3x3) of his pedigree. He was a brother to a stakes winner, Eagle Eyed, and two other stallions, Anziyan and Nuclear Freeze. Danehill was owned during his racing career by Khalid Abdullah, who also bred him.
and a fourth place in the Irish equivalent, Danehill was switched to shorter distances and developed into a champion sprinter, winning the Cork and Orrery Stakes
at Royal Ascot and the Haydock Sprint Cup
.
in Ireland and it was as a stallion
that Danehill made his greatest impact.
Sold by his owner to the partnership of Arrowfield Stud of Scone, New South Wales
, Australia
and Ireland's
Coolmore Stud
, he came to Australia as a shuttle stallion in 1990. At the end of the stud season he returned to Coolmore Stud in Ireland. He was an immediate sensation at stud in Australia
, where he went on to become leading sire
on many occasions. Danehill returned to Australia ten more times and also served one season at stud in Japan during 1996.
With his appeal to European breeders, he went on to become the first high-profile shuttle stallion, standing the northern hemisphere
covering season at Coolmore's Irish facility. Coolmore subsequently became his sole owner after a $24 million deal, making him the most valuable Thoroughbred in Australian breeding history.
Danehill's success in Europe was just as spectacular, exemplified by sons such as Horse of the Year, Rock of Gibraltar
(10 wins, $3,524,874) and dual Classic winner Desert King
(sire of triple Melbourne Cup
winner Makybe Diva
). His offspring, with their good looks, are often extremely hardy, none more so than superstar son Dylan Thomas
(10 wins, $8,065,317, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
) Even more significantly, many of his sons are now emerging as top stallions and his bloodline looks sure to become a mainstay of Thoroughbred pedigree
s like that of his illustrious sire and grandsire. His son, the Australian super sire, Redoute's Choice
, stands at a fee of $198,000 (2009) per mare. In Europe sons such as Danehill Dancer and Dansili are now established among the elite sires.
The list of Group/Grade One
winners sired by Danehill in both hemispheres is as follows: Al Maher, Aqua D'Amore, Aquarelliste
(FR) (7 wins, $2,569,170), Arena (6 wins, $2,256,638), Arlington Road, Artiste Royal, Asia, Aussie Rules, Banks Hill
(5 wins, $3,535,664), Blackfriars, Cacique
, Camarena, Catbird (5 wins $1,755,670), Champs Elysees (6 wins, $2,931,818),Clodovil, Danarani, Danasinga (6 wins, $1,156,900, sire), Dane Ripper (12 wins, $3,151,833), Danehill Dancer, Danelagh, Danendri, Danestorm, Danewin (13 wins, $2,031,466 and sire), Daney Boy, Danish, Danske, Danzero, Darci Brahma (10 wins, $1,122,757), Dashing Eagle, Desert King
, Dr Duke, Dress To Thrill, Dylan Thomas
, Duke of Marmalade
(GB) (6 wins, $3,065,542), Echelon, Elvstroem
(10 wins, $5,704,519), Emerald Dream, Exceed And Excel, Fairy King Prawn (12 wins, $6,642,047), Fastnet Rock
, Fine Motion, Flying Spur (6 wins $2,085,843; Leading sire in Australia
2006-07), George Washington
(6 wins, $1,912,798), Grey Lilas, Ha Ha, Holy Roman Emperor
, Horatio Nelson
, Indian Danehill, Intercontinental
, Johan Cruyff, Joie Denise, Keeper, Laisserfaire, Landseer
, Larrocha, Light Jig, Luas Line, Lucky Owners
, Magic Of Sydney, Magical Miss, Merlene, Miss Danehill, Mountain High, Mozart, Mr Murphy (11 wins, $1,500,250), North Light
, Nothin' Leica Dane, Oratorio (6 wins, $2,459,491), Peeping Fawn
, Platinum Scissors, Punctilious, Redoute's Choice
(5 wins, $1,567,850) , Regal Rose, Rena's Lady, Rock of Gibraltar
, Rumplestiltskin, Scintillation (12 wins, $3,956,157), Shinzig, Simply Perfect, Smart Choices, Spartacus, Special Dane, The Duke, Tiger Hill (10 wins, $1,895,792), Viking Ruler, Wannabe Grand, Westerner
(11 wins, $2,592,726), Zipping
(15 wins, $4,320,195)
Danehill was the sire of 2,008 runners, 1,545 winners (76.9%), 349 stakes winners (17.4%), 232 stakesplaced (11.6%). His progeny have won more than A$375 million and have included 89 group 1 winners among his 349 stakes winners. Duke of Marmalade (foaled in Ireland and imported into Australia) was one of Danehill's last foal crop, which comprised 96 live foals in 2003. Danehill has 114 sons and 56 grandsons at stud in Australia, plus 459 daughters who are broodmares. Danehill was the paternal grandsire of Makybe Diva
(Desert King-Tugela) who won the Melbourne Cup three times and had earnings of A$14,526,685. He was the damsire of Danedream
who won the 2011 Arc in record time and Shocking
(Street Cry-Maria Di Castiglia), a Melbourne Cup winner.
Danzig and his son, Danehill, were dominant bay sires along with 83 of Danehill's sons. This meant that they would not produce chestnut
progeny and only a grey if the foal's dam was grey.
On 13 May 2003, Danehill died in a paddock accident at Coolmore Stud, Danehill was being hand-led in his paddock at the famous Coolmore Stud when he reared playfully and landed awkwardly, breaking a hip. Even with some of the world's best veterinary practitioners on hand, it was decided there was no alternative but to put the horse down. Coolmore received £36 million from their insurance upon his death.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
who was bred in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. During his phenomenal stud career Danehill became a champion sire on both sides of the Equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
. He was the leading sire in Australia nine times, the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland three times, and the leading sire in France twice.
He was a bay stallion by leading sire Danzig
Danzig (horse)
Danzig was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known as a leading sire. He was purchased for $310,000 by Henryk de Kwiatkowski at the 1978 Saratoga Yearling Sale...
(by Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer
Northern Dancer was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and the most successful sire of the 20th Century. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association calls him "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history"....
) out of Razyana (by His Majesty). Danehill was inbred twice to Natalma in the third generation (3x3) of his pedigree. He was a brother to a stakes winner, Eagle Eyed, and two other stallions, Anziyan and Nuclear Freeze. Danehill was owned during his racing career by Khalid Abdullah, who also bred him.
Racing career
Trained by Jeremy Tree, Danehill faced the starter nine times, winning four races and only twice finishing unplaced. As a three-year-old, following a valiant third place in the 2,000 Guineas behind NashwanNashwan
Nashwan was a thoroughbred racehorse bred and owned by Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.The chestnut colt was sired by the 1977 Poule d'Essai des Poulains winner Blushing Groom out of Height of Fashion, a daughter of Bustino previously owned by Queen Elizabeth II. He was a thus half-brother to the Group...
and a fourth place in the Irish equivalent, Danehill was switched to shorter distances and developed into a champion sprinter, winning the Cork and Orrery Stakes
Golden Jubilee Stakes
The Golden Jubilee Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
at Royal Ascot and the Haydock Sprint Cup
Haydock Sprint Cup
The Sprint Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early September....
.
Stud record
Danehill retired to stud duties in 1990 at the Coolmore StudCoolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
in Ireland and it was as a stallion
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
that Danehill made his greatest impact.
Sold by his owner to the partnership of Arrowfield Stud of Scone, New South Wales
Scone, New South Wales
Scone is a town in the Upper Hunter Shire in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Scone had a population of 4,624 people. It is located on the New England Highway north of Muswellbrook about 270 kilometres north of Sydney, and is part of the Hunter and Upper...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Ireland's
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud
Coolmore Stud, in Fethard, South Tipperary in Ireland, is the world's largest breeding operation of thoroughbred racehorses. It was established in 1975....
, he came to Australia as a shuttle stallion in 1990. At the end of the stud season he returned to Coolmore Stud in Ireland. He was an immediate sensation at stud in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where he went on to become leading sire
Leading sire in Australia
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia for each season since 1883–84. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
on many occasions. Danehill returned to Australia ten more times and also served one season at stud in Japan during 1996.
With his appeal to European breeders, he went on to become the first high-profile shuttle stallion, standing the northern hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
covering season at Coolmore's Irish facility. Coolmore subsequently became his sole owner after a $24 million deal, making him the most valuable Thoroughbred in Australian breeding history.
Danehill's success in Europe was just as spectacular, exemplified by sons such as Horse of the Year, Rock of Gibraltar
Rock of Gibraltar (horse)
Rock of Gibraltar is a Champion racehorse and stallion owned by Coolmore, for whom he currently stands in Ireland and Australia .He is named after the Rock of Gibraltar, a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar on...
(10 wins, $3,524,874) and dual Classic winner Desert King
Desert King
Desert King is a Thoroughbred racehorse. Desert King won the Irish Derby Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was the sire of 13 stakeswinners with 34 stakeswins including Makybe Diva ....
(sire of triple Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
winner Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
). His offspring, with their good looks, are often extremely hardy, none more so than superstar son Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas (horse)
Dylan Thomas is a Thoroughbred racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien and owned by Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor. He was sired by Danehill out of Lagrion, a daughter of Diesis...
(10 wins, $8,065,317, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
) Even more significantly, many of his sons are now emerging as top stallions and his bloodline looks sure to become a mainstay of Thoroughbred pedigree
Pedigree chart
A pedigree chart is a diagram that shows the occurrence and appearance or phenotypes of a particular gene or organism and its ancestors from one generation to the next, most commonly humans, show dogs, and race horses....
s like that of his illustrious sire and grandsire. His son, the Australian super sire, Redoute's Choice
Redoute's Choice
Redoute's Choice was a multiple Group One-winning Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and is now a champion sire. He is by the phenomenal international sire Danehill out of the lightly raced mare Shantha's Choice...
, stands at a fee of $198,000 (2009) per mare. In Europe sons such as Danehill Dancer and Dansili are now established among the elite sires.
The list of Group/Grade One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
winners sired by Danehill in both hemispheres is as follows: Al Maher, Aqua D'Amore, Aquarelliste
Aquarelliste
Aquarelliste is an French Thoroughbred filly racehorse. Owned and bred by Daniel Wildenstein, she was sired by Danehill, a Leading sire in Australia as well as in France and Great Britain & Ireland. She was out of the mare Agathe, a daughter of Manila, the 1986 Breeders' Cup Turf winner voted...
(FR) (7 wins, $2,569,170), Arena (6 wins, $2,256,638), Arlington Road, Artiste Royal, Asia, Aussie Rules, Banks Hill
Banks Hill
Banks Hill was a French Thoroughbred Champion filly racehorse. She was bred and raced by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms. She was sired by Danehill, a multiple Champion sire in England, Ireland, and France and the most successful sire in the history of Australian Thoroughbred racing...
(5 wins, $3,535,664), Blackfriars, Cacique
Cacique (horse)
Cacique is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse who competed in Europe and the United States. Bred and raced by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, Cacique is the son of the great international Champion sire, Danehill. He was out of the fantastic mare, Hasili whose damsire, Kahyasi, won the 1988 Epsom...
, Camarena, Catbird (5 wins $1,755,670), Champs Elysees (6 wins, $2,931,818),Clodovil, Danarani, Danasinga (6 wins, $1,156,900, sire), Dane Ripper (12 wins, $3,151,833), Danehill Dancer, Danelagh, Danendri, Danestorm, Danewin (13 wins, $2,031,466 and sire), Daney Boy, Danish, Danske, Danzero, Darci Brahma (10 wins, $1,122,757), Dashing Eagle, Desert King
Desert King
Desert King is a Thoroughbred racehorse. Desert King won the Irish Derby Stakes and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was the sire of 13 stakeswinners with 34 stakeswins including Makybe Diva ....
, Dr Duke, Dress To Thrill, Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas (horse)
Dylan Thomas is a Thoroughbred racehorse. He was trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien and owned by Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor. He was sired by Danehill out of Lagrion, a daughter of Diesis...
, Duke of Marmalade
Duke of Marmalade
Duke of Marmalade is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire. He is best known for winning five consecutive Group One races in 2008, for which he was named European Champion Older Horse...
(GB) (6 wins, $3,065,542), Echelon, Elvstroem
Elvstroem
Elvstroem was an outstanding bay Thoroughbred racehorse, by world champion sire Danehill from the former champion three-year-old filly, Circles of Gold.-Dam:...
(10 wins, $5,704,519), Emerald Dream, Exceed And Excel, Fairy King Prawn (12 wins, $6,642,047), Fastnet Rock
Fastnet Rock (horse)
Fastnet Rock is an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse stallion.Sired by Danehill to dam Piccadilly Circus, he started his racing career in 2004. Though he did not win any races as a two-year-old, he ran third in the Group One AJC Sires Produce Stakes. He found great success after turning three years...
, Fine Motion, Flying Spur (6 wins $2,085,843; Leading sire in Australia
Leading sire in Australia
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia for each season since 1883–84. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
2006-07), George Washington
George Washington (horse)
George Washington was a thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Ireland by champion sire Danehill out of Bordighera, also the dam of the high class colt Grandera. Bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson, he was trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O'Brien and owned by Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith...
(6 wins, $1,912,798), Grey Lilas, Ha Ha, Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor (horse)
Holy Roman Emperor, sired by Danehill out of a Secretariat mare, was a leading two-year-old winning four races from seven runs racehorse in Europe in 2006...
, Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson (horse)
Horatio Nelson was a racehorse sired by Danehill, out of the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks winner Imagine. His owners were John Magnier and David Nagle. The colt won four of his seven starts, including the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère at Longchamp Racecourse in October 2005. He competed in the...
, Indian Danehill, Intercontinental
Intercontinental (horse)
Intercontinental is a Thoroughbred Champion filly racehorse who competed in England, France, and the United States.Bred and raced by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, she was sired by Danehill, a multiple Champion sire in England, Ireland, and France and the most successful sire in the history of...
, Johan Cruyff, Joie Denise, Keeper, Laisserfaire, Landseer
Landseer (horse)
Landseer was a Thoroughbred racehorse. A son of Champion sire Danehill, he was out of the mare, Sabria, whose sire Miswaki was the sire of the great filly Urban Sea...
, Larrocha, Light Jig, Luas Line, Lucky Owners
Lucky Owners
Lucky Owners is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse who raced in Hong Kong. Sired by Danehill to dam Miss Priority, he won eight races in his career, including the Group One Hong Kong Mile and Hong Kong Derby. He was retired to stud in 2004.-Trivia:*In Lucky Owners' debut race on January 11,...
, Magic Of Sydney, Magical Miss, Merlene, Miss Danehill, Mountain High, Mozart, Mr Murphy (11 wins, $1,500,250), North Light
North Light
North Light is a retired Thoroughbred racehorse, and active sire, bred in Ireland but trained in the United Kingdom. He is best known as the winner of the Epsom Derby in 2004. He currently stands at the Adena Springs Stud in Aurora, Ontario, Canada.-Background:North Light was bred in Ireland by...
, Nothin' Leica Dane, Oratorio (6 wins, $2,459,491), Peeping Fawn
Peeping Fawn
Peeping Fawn is an Irish-based Thoroughbred filly racehorse.Owned by Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier, and trained by Aidan O'Brien, Peeping Fawn won an amazing four Group One races in 2007: Irish Pretty Polly Stakes, Irish Oaks, Nassau Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks...
, Platinum Scissors, Punctilious, Redoute's Choice
Redoute's Choice
Redoute's Choice was a multiple Group One-winning Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and is now a champion sire. He is by the phenomenal international sire Danehill out of the lightly raced mare Shantha's Choice...
(5 wins, $1,567,850) , Regal Rose, Rena's Lady, Rock of Gibraltar
Rock of Gibraltar (horse)
Rock of Gibraltar is a Champion racehorse and stallion owned by Coolmore, for whom he currently stands in Ireland and Australia .He is named after the Rock of Gibraltar, a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar on...
, Rumplestiltskin, Scintillation (12 wins, $3,956,157), Shinzig, Simply Perfect, Smart Choices, Spartacus, Special Dane, The Duke, Tiger Hill (10 wins, $1,895,792), Viking Ruler, Wannabe Grand, Westerner
Westerner (horse)
Westerner is a French-owned Champion Thoroughbred racehorse who competed successfully at racing venues across Europe. Bred by a Wildenstein family holding company, Westerner was raced by Alec Wildenstein. Trained by Elie Lellouche, in 2003 and 2004 in France he won back-to-back editions of the...
(11 wins, $2,592,726), Zipping
Zipping (horse)
Zipping is an Australian champion racehorse who is notable for winning the prestigious Sandown Classic race in four consecutive years. -Racing history:He won his first Sandown Classic in 2007, defeating Jukebox Johhny, and Baughurst as a 6 year old....
(15 wins, $4,320,195)
Danehill was the sire of 2,008 runners, 1,545 winners (76.9%), 349 stakes winners (17.4%), 232 stakesplaced (11.6%). His progeny have won more than A$375 million and have included 89 group 1 winners among his 349 stakes winners. Duke of Marmalade (foaled in Ireland and imported into Australia) was one of Danehill's last foal crop, which comprised 96 live foals in 2003. Danehill has 114 sons and 56 grandsons at stud in Australia, plus 459 daughters who are broodmares. Danehill was the paternal grandsire of Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
(Desert King-Tugela) who won the Melbourne Cup three times and had earnings of A$14,526,685. He was the damsire of Danedream
Danedream
Danedream is a German Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2011 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in race record time. She is one of only two German trained horses to win the Arc, the other being Star Appeal in 1975...
who won the 2011 Arc in record time and Shocking
Shocking
Shocking is an Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse, trained by Mark Kavanagh, who won the 149th Melbourne Cup on 3 November 2009 by three-quarters of a length.-Pedigree:...
(Street Cry-Maria Di Castiglia), a Melbourne Cup winner.
Danzig and his son, Danehill, were dominant bay sires along with 83 of Danehill's sons. This meant that they would not produce chestnut
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
progeny and only a grey if the foal's dam was grey.
On 13 May 2003, Danehill died in a paddock accident at Coolmore Stud, Danehill was being hand-led in his paddock at the famous Coolmore Stud when he reared playfully and landed awkwardly, breaking a hip. Even with some of the world's best veterinary practitioners on hand, it was decided there was no alternative but to put the horse down. Coolmore received £36 million from their insurance upon his death.