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8.
The Danehill Bombshell
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01/07/2002 |
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The decision by Coolmore Stud not to shuttle super sire Danehill this year has rocked the Australian breeding industry to the core. No stallion since the great Star Kingdom has exerted such a profound influence on the Australian thoroughbred industry to that achieved by the son of Danzig.
DANEHILL
Danehill has an unbeatable lead in this season’s stallion premiership, his sixth in the last eight years. His sons have become the most sought after commodity in this part of the world, which makes the recent death of Danehill’s champion European sprinter Mozart an even more crippling blow for Coolmore.
Coolmore and Arrowfield Studs joined forces to purchase Danehill, winner of the Ladbroke Sprint Cup (G1) and rated champion three-year old sprinter on the International Classification. The powerful bay stallion stood his first season in Ireland and Australia in 1990. After a well publiced split with Arrowfield, the two parties entered into a private auction for the champion stallion, which resulted in Coolmore taking full control.
While it took some time for Danehill to be accepted among the elite stallions of Europe, such was not the case in Australia where Danehill has been a revelation since his first crop hit the tracks in 1994. That initial crop produced the Golden Slipper winner Danzero. When Ha Ha won the Golden Slipper in 2001 she became the fifth winner of the race for Danehill. It was a feat that equaled that of Star Kingdom, which sired the first five winners of the coveted race.
After 12 year of continuous shuttling, Coolmore veterinarians have decided the 16-year stallion is need of a rest. The real possibility that Danehill will not be seen in Australia again will create a void in the breeding ranks that will be extremely difficult to fill. The effect will be most definitely be felt in the sales ring where the champion stallion has underpinned the yearling sales for years. Danehill’s legendry status in Australia has been matched in recent years by Hong Kong’s insatiable appetite for his yearlings.
With 179 stakes winners, which include 43 Group One winners, Danehill is hot on the heels of Coolmore, Ireland stablemate Sadler’s Wells who recently passed the 200 stakes winners mark. Earnings by the progeny of Danehill to date total over A$167,000,000, with $60,000,000 of that total coming in Australia alone. As recently as last week Danehill was the leading stallion at Royal Ascot, with Rock Of Gibraltar and Landseer running the quinella in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes and Irresistible Jewel winning the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes.
If we have seen the last of Danehill in Australia he has a left us a magnificent legacy, particularly through his sons. Some of the earliest sons of Danehill to go to stud, Danzero, Flying Spur, Danewin and Lion Hunter (about to be crowned Champion First Season Sire), all have produced Group 1 winners.
When Ha Ha won the 2001 running of the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes she became the fifth winner of the race for Danehill. A feat that equaled that of Star Kingdom who sired the first five winners of the coveted race.
The absence of Danehill opens the way for Coolmore to stand the Storm Cat stallion Giant’s Causeway this season. Unbeaten at two, with wins in the Group One Prix de la Salamandre (1400m) and Group Three King of Kings EBF Futurity S. (1400m), Giant’s Causeway won five consecutive Group One races at three, St James’s Palace Stakes, Coral-Eclipse Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Juddmonte International Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes.
Coolmore Australia manager Michael Kirwan said "We believe Giant's Causeway is sure to appeal to breeders as a very worthy and viable alternative to Danehill for the coming season. Danehill's progeny are best known for their ability and toughness, and Giant's Causeway was one of the best and toughest horses ever to have raced in Europe. He is also getting outstanding first foals in the Northern Hemishphere."
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