Danehill (26 March 1986 – 13 May 2003) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse who was the most successful sire of all time with 349 stakes winners and 89 Grade 1 winners.[1] 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.

Danehill
Racing silks of Khalid Abdullah
SireDanzig
GrandsireNorthern Dancer
DamRazyana
DamsireHis Majesty
SexStallion
Foaled(1986-03-26)26 March 1986
Died13 May 2003(2003-05-13) (aged 17)
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederJuddmonte Farms
OwnerPrince Khalid Abdullah
TrainerJeremy Tree
Record9: 4-1-2
Earnings£177,465
Major wins
Cork and Orrery Stakes (1989)
Haydock Sprint Cup (1989)
Awards
Leading sire in Australia (1995–1997, 2000–2005)
Leading sire in France (2001, 2007)
Leading sire in GB & Ireland (2005, 2006, 2007)
Leading broodmare sire in North America (2011)
Leading broodmare sire in GB & Ireland (2012)
Honours
Australian Racing Hall of Fame
Last updated on August 25, 2014

Background

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Danehill 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.[2] Danehill was owned during his racing career by Khalid Abdullah, who also bred him.

Racing career

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Trained by Jeremy Tree, Danehill ran nine times, winning four. As a three-year-old, following a third placing in the 2,000 Guineas behind Nashwan and a fourth place in the Irish equivalent, Danehill was switched to sprinting, winning the Cork and Orrery Stakes at Ascot and the Haydock Sprint Cup. During his racing career he earned a total of £177,465 and ran to a peak Timeform rating of T126.[3]

Stud record

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Danehill retired to stud duties in 1990 at the Coolmore Stud in Ireland and made his greatest impact as a stallion.

Sold by his owner under advice 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 was leading sire on many occasions. Danehill returned to Australia ten more times and also served one season at stud in Japan during 1996.[4]

With his appeal to European breeders, he became 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.[5]

Danehill's success in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France was slow to develop as connections had convinced themselves the Danehill's required wet tracks and light work. After winning 3 Golden Slippers in his first 3 crops in Australia the opposite was proven true and Ballydoyle who had the majority of the NH Danehills adjusted their training methods which yielded Aidan Obriens first G1 success when Desert King, from the 4th crop of Danehill, won the G1 National Stakes for 2yos at The Curragh in 1996 under Walter Swinburn.

Danehill's highest rated racehorses were:

Rock Of Gibraltar (T133 achieved G1 Sussex Stakes Goodwood 2002) George Washington (T133 achieved QEII Stakes Ascot 2006)

Dylan Thomas (T132 achieved G1 King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ascot 2007) Duke Of Marmalade (T132 achieved Prince of Wales's Stakes G1 Ascot 2008)

Mozart (T131 achieved July Cup G1 Newmarket The July Course 2001)

Westerner (T130 achieved Gold Cup Ascot (at York) 2005)

Group 1 winners sired

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c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding, n=northern hemisphere, s=southern hemisphere

Foaled Name Sex Major wins
1991n Danish f Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes
1991n Kissing Cousin f Coronation Stakes
1991s Danarani f Toorak Handicap, Flight Stakes
1991s Danasinga c Stradbroke Handicap
1991s Danewin c Mackinnon Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Doomben Cup, Spring Champion Stakes, Rosehill Guineas
1991s Danzero c Golden Slipper
1991s Joie Denise f Queensland Oaks
1992s Daney Boy g Karrakatta Plate
1992s Flying Spur c Golden Slipper, Australian Guineas, All Aged Stakes
1992s Nothin' Leica Dane c Spring Champion Stakes, Victoria Derby
1993n Danehill Dancer c Phoenix Stakes, National Stakes
1993s Dane Ripper f Stradbroke Handicap, W. S. Cox Plate, Australian Cup, Manikato Stakes
1993s Danendri f Australian Oaks, Vinery Stud Stakes
1993s Dashing Eagle f The Thousand Guineas, Flight Stakes
1993s Magic of Sydney f Spring Champion Stakes
1993s Merlene f Golden Slipper, AJC Sires' Produce Stakes
1994n Desert King c National Stakes, Irish 2,000 Guineas, Irish Derby
1994s Special Dane c C F Orr Stakes
1995n Tiger Hill c Grosser Preis von Baden, Bayerisches Zuchtrennen
1995s Arena c Canterbury Guineas, Victoria Derby
1995s Camarena f Queensland Derby
1995s Danelagh f Blue Diamond Stakes
1995s Danske c New Zealand 2000 Guineas
1995s Miss Danehill f Queensland Oaks
1996n Indian Danehill c Prix Ganay
1996n Wannabe Grand f Cheveley Park Stakes
1996s Blackfriars c Victoria Derby
1996s Catbird c Golden Slipper Stakes
1996s Emerald Dream f New Zealand International Stakes
1996s Redoute's Choice c Blue Diamond Stakes, Caulfield Guineas, Manikato Stakes, C F Orr Stakes
1996s Laisserfaire f Cape Flying Championship(2001,2002),[6] South Africa Fillies Sprint(2001,2002),[7] Computaform Sprint(2002)[8][9]
1997s Asia f South Australian Oaks
1997s Keeper c Goodwood Handicap
1997s Mr Murphy g Futurity Stakes, Australian Guineas, Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
1998n Aquarelliste f Prix de Diane, Prix Vermeille, Prix Ganay
1998n Banks Hill f Coronation Stakes, Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Prix Jacques Le Marois
1998n Mozart c July Cup, Nunthorpe Stakes
1998n Regal Rose f Cheveley Park Stakes
1998s Danestorm c Brisbane Cup
1998s Ha Ha f Golden Slipper
1998s Magical Miss f The Thousand Guineas, VRC Oaks
1998s Viking Ruler c Spring Champion Stakes
1999n Dress To Thrill f Matriarch Stakes
1999n Fine Motion f Shuka Sho, Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup
1999n Landseer c Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
1999n Rock of Gibraltar c Grand Critérium, Dewhurst Stakes, 2000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Prix du Moulin
1999n Westerner c Prix du Cadran, Prix Royal-Oak, Ascot Gold Cup
1999s Larrocha f South Australian Oaks
1999s Lucky Owners c Hong Kong Mile
1999s Platinum Scissors c Spring Champion Stakes, Doomben Cup
1999s The Duke g Hong Kong Mile
2000n Clodovil c Poule d'Essai des Poulains
2000n Intercontinental f Jenny Wiley Stakes, Just A Game Handicap, Matriarch Stakes
2000n Light Jig f Yellow Ribbon Stakes
2000n Spartacus c Phoenix Stakes, Gran Criterium
2000s Elvstroem c Victoria Derby, Caulfield Cup, Underwood Stakes, C F Orr Stakes, Dubai Duty Free Stakes
2000s Exceed And Excel c Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, Newmarket Handicap
2001n Artiste Royal c Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes, Charles Whittingham Stakes
2001n Cacique c Man o' War Stakes, Manhattan Handicap
2001n Grey Lilas f Prix du Moulin
2001n North Light c Epsom Derby
2001n Punctilious f Yorkshire Oaks
2001s Al Maher c Australian Guineas
2001s Aqua d'Amore f Futurity Stakes
2001s Fastnet Rock c Lexus Classic, Lightning Stakes, Oakleigh Plate
2001s Shinzig c C F Orr Stakes
2001s Zipping g Turnbull Stakes, Australian Cup
2002n Echelon f Matron Stakes
2002n Luas Line f Garden City Handicap
2002n Mountain High c Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud
2002n Oratorio c Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère, Eclipse Stakes, Irish Champion Stakes
2002s Darci Brahma c The T J Smith, New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Otaki-Maori Weight for Age, Waikato Sprint, Telegraph Handicap
2003n Aussie Rules c Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes
2003n Champs Elysees c Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes, Northern Dancer Turf Stakes, Canadian International Stakes
2003n Dylan Thomas c Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes, Prix Ganay, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
2003n George Washington c Phoenix Stakes, National Stakes, 2,000 Guineas, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
2003n Horatio Nelson c Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère
2003n Rumplestiltskin f Moyglare Stud Stakes, Prix Marcel Boussac
2003s Arlington Road g All Aged Stakes
2004n Duke of Marmalade c Prix Ganay, Tattersalls Gold Cup, Prince of Wales's Stakes, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, International Stakes
2004n Holy Roman Emperor c Phoenix Stakes, Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère
2004n Peeping Fawn f Pretty Polly Stakes, Irish Oaks, Nassau Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks
2004n Promising Lead f Pretty Polly Stakes
2004n Simply Perfect f Fillies' Mile, Falmouth Stakes

Also: Scintillation (3 × Hong Kong local G1), Fairy King Prawn (4 × Hong Kong local G1,1 x Japan G1). Fairy King Prawn won local G1 in Hong Kong and a local G1 in Japan but neither was a race listed in Part 1 of the International Cataloguing Standards, which means they counted for listed status only.

His total of 84 International G1 winners was a world record until June 2020 when Peaceful won the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas in Ireland, thereby making her a new world-record 85th G1 winner for her sire, Galileo.[10]

Danehill was the sire of 2,485 foals, of which 347 were black-type winners (209 Group winners and 138 Listed winners). Danehill's last foal crop, which comprised 96 live foals, were born in 2004.

Danzig and his son, Danehill, were dominant bay sires along with Danehill's sons. This meant that they would not produce chestnut progeny and only a grey if the foal's dam was grey.[11]

On 13 May 2003, Danehill died in a paddock accident at Coolmore Stud. He was being hand-led in his paddock 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.[12]

Pedigree

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Pedigree of Danehill (USA), bay stallion, 1986
Sire
Danzig (USA)
1977
Northern Dancer (CAN)
1961
Nearctic (CAN) Nearco
Lady Angela
Natalma (USA) Native Dancer
Almahmoud
Pas de Nom (USA)
1968
Admiral's Voyage Crafty Admiral
Olympia Lou
Petitioner (GB) Petition
Steady Aim
Dam
Razyana (USA)
1981
His Majesty Ribot (GB) Tenerani
Romanella
Flower Bowl Alibhai
Flower Bed
Spring Adieu (CAN) Buckpasser Tom Fool
Busanda
Natalma (USA) Native Dancer
Almahmoud (Family: 2D)

Danehill is inbred 3 x 3 to Natalma. This means that Danehill is inbred 4 x 4 to both Native Dancer and Almahmoud.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Danehill – Australian Racing Hall of Fame
  2. ^ ASB – Razyana (USA) Retrieved on 2009-8-13
  3. ^ "Danehill | Stud Record". Racing Post. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  4. ^ ASB – Migration Retrieved on 200-8-12
  5. ^ Champion Danehill dies in accident Retrieved on 200-8-12
  6. ^ Winning Horse for Cape Flying Championship
  7. ^ Winning Horse for South Africa Fillies Sprint
  8. ^ Winning Horse for Computaform Sprint
  9. ^ Laisserfaire(AUS)
  10. ^ Galileo's Peaceful Takes the Irish 1000
  11. ^ Racetrack Sires 2009, June/August, 2009, Australian Stud Book's Database, Michael Ford
  12. ^ Champion Danehill dies in accident Retrieved on 200-8-12