Dancing Brave (USA)
May 11, 1983 – August 2, 1999
Lyphard (USA) x Navajo Princess (USA), by Drone (USA)
Family 3-d
May 11, 1983 – August 2, 1999
Lyphard (USA) x Navajo Princess (USA), by Drone (USA)
Family 3-d
1986 was a banner year for Northern Dancer’s excellent sire son Lyphard, who was represented by two excellent 3-year-old colts that season: Manila, the American champion turf male of that year, and Dancing Brave, widely reckoned the best horse of any age racing in Europe in 1986 and one of the best European-raced horses of the 20th century. A much-anticipated meeting between the two in the 1986 Breeders’ Cup Turf (USA-G1) proved anticlimactic as Dancing Brave ended up fourth. He had become dehydrated before the race and was struck in an eye by a clod of dirt during the running, but even discounting such excuses, his performance was no disgrace in a year when the first three across the line were Manila, 1987 American champion turf male Theatrical, and 1986 American champion turf female Estrapade, a proven commodity against Grade 1-level males. Dancing Brave was a good stallion but was not nearly as successful as a sire as he had been as a racehorse and ended up being exported to Japan.
Race record
10 starts, 8 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, £987,077 (in England, France, and USA)
1986:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 11 pounds below top-rated Bakharoff in the 1985 International Classification for 2-year-olds.
Rated at 140 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old.
In 1986, Dancing Brave was rated at 141 pounds on the International Classification, the highest rating given to any horse up to that time. In 2013, his rating was readjusted to 138 pounds, 2 pounds behind undefeated Frankel, who was assigned 140 pounds.
In their book A Century of Champions, British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Dancing Brave as the sixth best British racehorse of the 20th century and the 16th best horse of the 20th century worldwide.
As an individual
A well-balanced, medium-sized bay horse of excellent temperament, Dancing Brave possessed a dazzling turn of foot. He was flawed by a parrot mouth, which he tended to pass on to his progeny, and had less than perfect forelegs.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by The Jockey Club, Dancing Brave sired 231 winners (53.2%) and 31 stakes winners (7.1%) from 434 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Cherokee Rose (IRE), Commander in Chief (GB), Ivanka (IRE), Kyoei March (JPN), T.M. Ocean (JPN), Wemyss Bight (GB), White Muzzle (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Beat Hollow (GB), Military Attack (IRE), Mus-If (GB), Oasis Dream (GB), Primo Valentino (IRE), Robertico (GB), Zomaradah (GB)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Dancing Brave was bred by Glen Oak Farm. Purchased for US$200,000 as a yearling from the 1984 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale, he raced for Khalid Abdullah and was trained by Guy Harwood. Following the colt's 3-year-old season, Khalid Abdullah sold a half interest in Dancing Brave to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, and 16 more shares were marketed at a price that gave Dancing Brave a total valuation of £14 million.The horse entered stud in 1987 in England at Dalham Hall Stud. He was exported to Japan in 1991 and stood the remainder of his life at Shizunai Stallion Station, dying there of an apparent heart attack on August 2, 1999.
Pedigree notes
Dancing Brave is inbred 5x5 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner and 1946 American champion sire Mahmoud. He is a full brother to 1992 Prix de Diane Hermes (French Oaks, FR-G1) and Prix Vermeille (FR-G1) winner Jolypha, second dam of 2010 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Redwood (by High Chaparral) and third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Realm of Flowers; to Balleta, dam of French listed stakes winner Barricade (by Riverman); and to Javandra, dam of French listed stakes winner Idaho Quest (by Rainbow Quest). Dancing Brave is also a half brother to Squaw Angel (by Sunny’s Halo), second dam of multiple South African Group 3 winner Tribal Dance, and to Anasazi (by Sadler’s Wells), dam of French listed stakes winners Runaway and Kilo Alpha (both by King’s Best) and second dam of 2021 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (USA-G1) winner Juliet Foxtrot and English Group 3 winner Juliet Sierra.
Navajo Princess, the dam of Dancing Brave, won the 1979 Molly Pitcher Handicap (USA-G2 and is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Passamaquoddy, dam of English listed stakes winners Tamim (by Topsider) and Humam (by Nijinsky II), second dam of multiple Japanese Group 2 winner Meisho Beluga, and third dam of South African Group 2 winners Eight Street and Ottimo and Japanese Group 2 winners Meisho Tengen and Meisho Mimosa. She is also a full sister to La Venta, dam of French listed stakes winner and multiple stakes producer La Pascua (by Caerleon) and third dam of Grade 3 winner Cozzetti. In addition, Navajo Princess is a half sister to 1981 Massachusetts Handicap (USA-G3) winner Soldier Boy (by Tumiga) and to Darling Lady (by Alleged), dam of multiple stakes winner Darling Dame (by Lyphard), second dam of 2005 Diana Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sand Springs, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Dust and Diamonds. Finally, Navajo Princess is a half sister to Al’s Darlin (by Alydar), dam of Grade 2 winner Green Darlin (by Green Dancer) and second dam of multiple Jamaican champion Deputy’s Report.
Navajo Princess and her siblings, in turn, are out of multiple juvenile stakes winner Olmec (by 1962/1963 Australian champion 2-year-old male Pago Pago), a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Satin Gold (by Tulyar) and to Juneau T. (by Bupers), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Beau Blade (by Blade). Produced from the stakes-winning Beau Max mare Chocolate Beau (whose dam Otra is an Equipoise half sister to 1938 American champion 3-year-old filly Handcuff), Olmec is also a half sister to Missy T. (by Lt. Stevens), dam of 1982 Puerto Rican champion imported 3-year-old male Chef Henry (by Tudor Grey) and listed stakes winners Elaine Hemmings (by Forceten) and Tees Prospect (by Tank’s Prospect) and second dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Sharp Profile. In addition, she is a half sister to stakes-placed Chip o’ Chocolate (by Cornish Prince), dam of listed stakes winner Chip n Charge (by Distinctive Pro) and stakes winner Barronette (by Track Barron).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: August 21, 2024
Race record
10 starts, 8 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, £987,077 (in England, France, and USA)
1986:
- Won General Accident Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1, 8FT, Newmarket)
- Won Coral-Eclipse Stakes (ENG-G1, 10FT, Sandown)
- Won King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (ENG-G1, 12FT, Ascot)
- Won Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1, 2400mT, Longchamp)
- Won Craven Stakes (ENG-G3, 8FT, Newmarket)
- Won Scottish Equitable Select Stakes (ENG-G3, Goodwood)
- 2nd Ever Ready Derby Stakes (ENG-G1, 12F+10yT, Epsom)
Honors
- QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame (inducted in 2022)
- English Horse of the Year (1986)
- English champion miler (1986)
- English champion 3-year-old male (1986)
- French champion 3-year-old male (1986)
Assessments
Rated at 11 pounds below top-rated Bakharoff in the 1985 International Classification for 2-year-olds.
Rated at 140 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old.
In 1986, Dancing Brave was rated at 141 pounds on the International Classification, the highest rating given to any horse up to that time. In 2013, his rating was readjusted to 138 pounds, 2 pounds behind undefeated Frankel, who was assigned 140 pounds.
In their book A Century of Champions, British experts John Randall and Tony Morris rated Dancing Brave as the sixth best British racehorse of the 20th century and the 16th best horse of the 20th century worldwide.
As an individual
A well-balanced, medium-sized bay horse of excellent temperament, Dancing Brave possessed a dazzling turn of foot. He was flawed by a parrot mouth, which he tended to pass on to his progeny, and had less than perfect forelegs.
As a stallion
According to records compiled by The Jockey Club, Dancing Brave sired 231 winners (53.2%) and 31 stakes winners (7.1%) from 434 named foals of racing age.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 2nd on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1993.
- 3rd on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 2000; 8th in 2001; 9th in 2004.
- 8th on the French general sire list in 1993.
- 8th on the French broodmare sire list in 2000.
- 5th on the Japanese general sire list in 1997; 10th in 1998
Per Japan Bloodstock Information Systems (https://www.jbis.jp/ranking/):
- 6th on the Japanese general sire list in 1997; 10th in 1998.
- 9th on the Japanese broodmare sire list in 2007; 10th in 2006 and 2009.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Irish general sire list in 1993.
Notable progeny
Cherokee Rose (IRE), Commander in Chief (GB), Ivanka (IRE), Kyoei March (JPN), T.M. Ocean (JPN), Wemyss Bight (GB), White Muzzle (GB)
Notable progeny of daughters
Beat Hollow (GB), Military Attack (IRE), Mus-If (GB), Oasis Dream (GB), Primo Valentino (IRE), Robertico (GB), Zomaradah (GB)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Dancing Brave was bred by Glen Oak Farm. Purchased for US$200,000 as a yearling from the 1984 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling sale, he raced for Khalid Abdullah and was trained by Guy Harwood. Following the colt's 3-year-old season, Khalid Abdullah sold a half interest in Dancing Brave to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, and 16 more shares were marketed at a price that gave Dancing Brave a total valuation of £14 million.The horse entered stud in 1987 in England at Dalham Hall Stud. He was exported to Japan in 1991 and stood the remainder of his life at Shizunai Stallion Station, dying there of an apparent heart attack on August 2, 1999.
Pedigree notes
Dancing Brave is inbred 5x5 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner and 1946 American champion sire Mahmoud. He is a full brother to 1992 Prix de Diane Hermes (French Oaks, FR-G1) and Prix Vermeille (FR-G1) winner Jolypha, second dam of 2010 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (CAN-G1) winner Redwood (by High Chaparral) and third dam of Australian Group 3 winner Realm of Flowers; to Balleta, dam of French listed stakes winner Barricade (by Riverman); and to Javandra, dam of French listed stakes winner Idaho Quest (by Rainbow Quest). Dancing Brave is also a half brother to Squaw Angel (by Sunny’s Halo), second dam of multiple South African Group 3 winner Tribal Dance, and to Anasazi (by Sadler’s Wells), dam of French listed stakes winners Runaway and Kilo Alpha (both by King’s Best) and second dam of 2021 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (USA-G1) winner Juliet Foxtrot and English Group 3 winner Juliet Sierra.
Navajo Princess, the dam of Dancing Brave, won the 1979 Molly Pitcher Handicap (USA-G2 and is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Passamaquoddy, dam of English listed stakes winners Tamim (by Topsider) and Humam (by Nijinsky II), second dam of multiple Japanese Group 2 winner Meisho Beluga, and third dam of South African Group 2 winners Eight Street and Ottimo and Japanese Group 2 winners Meisho Tengen and Meisho Mimosa. She is also a full sister to La Venta, dam of French listed stakes winner and multiple stakes producer La Pascua (by Caerleon) and third dam of Grade 3 winner Cozzetti. In addition, Navajo Princess is a half sister to 1981 Massachusetts Handicap (USA-G3) winner Soldier Boy (by Tumiga) and to Darling Lady (by Alleged), dam of multiple stakes winner Darling Dame (by Lyphard), second dam of 2005 Diana Stakes (USA-G1) winner Sand Springs, and third dam of Grade 2 winner Dust and Diamonds. Finally, Navajo Princess is a half sister to Al’s Darlin (by Alydar), dam of Grade 2 winner Green Darlin (by Green Dancer) and second dam of multiple Jamaican champion Deputy’s Report.
Navajo Princess and her siblings, in turn, are out of multiple juvenile stakes winner Olmec (by 1962/1963 Australian champion 2-year-old male Pago Pago), a half sister to juvenile stakes winner Satin Gold (by Tulyar) and to Juneau T. (by Bupers), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Beau Blade (by Blade). Produced from the stakes-winning Beau Max mare Chocolate Beau (whose dam Otra is an Equipoise half sister to 1938 American champion 3-year-old filly Handcuff), Olmec is also a half sister to Missy T. (by Lt. Stevens), dam of 1982 Puerto Rican champion imported 3-year-old male Chef Henry (by Tudor Grey) and listed stakes winners Elaine Hemmings (by Forceten) and Tees Prospect (by Tank’s Prospect) and second dam of Brazilian Group 2 winner Sharp Profile. In addition, she is a half sister to stakes-placed Chip o’ Chocolate (by Cornish Prince), dam of listed stakes winner Chip n Charge (by Distinctive Pro) and stakes winner Barronette (by Track Barron).
Books and media
- Dancing Brave is one of 75 European racehorses and sires profiled in Tony Morris’s Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
- Footage of Dancing Brave's win in the 1986 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qPw4mvXXLo.
Fun facts
- Dancing Brave’s stud career and life were threatened by his developing a rare disorder, Marie’s Disease, late in 1987. Fortunately, he recovered in time to stand part of the 1988 season and proved to have retained normal fertility.
- Although his closing run failed to catch Shahrastani in the 1986 Derby Stakes, Dancing Brave turned in one of the fastest closing furlongs in the race’s history, having been clocked at 10.3 seconds for the final 220 yards.
- Dancing Brave was the first horse to be unanimously voted the English Horse of the Year since Brigadier Gerard in 1971.
Last updated: August 21, 2024