Danehill (USA)
March 26, 1986 – May 13, 2003
Danzig (USA) x Razyana (USA), by His Majesty (USA)
Family 2-d
March 26, 1986 – May 13, 2003
Danzig (USA) x Razyana (USA), by His Majesty (USA)
Family 2-d
Danehill proved a high-class sprinter during his racing days in England and France, but his incredible success as a stallion soon overshadowed his success as a racehorse. One of the great international stallions of all time, Danehill earned general sire championships in Australia, England and France in spite of his relatively early death at the age of 17. Since then, he has proven equally valuable around the globe as a broodmare sire.
Race record
9 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$284,502 (includes converted English and French earnings)
1989:
Assessments
Rated at 100 pounds by Timeform as a juvenile.
Rated at 126 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old.
Led the International Classification for European 3-year-old sprinters of 1989.
As an individual
A well-balanced, athletic, muscular bay horse with powerful hindquarters and a strong hind leg, Danehill resembled his sire Danzig but was somewhat taller and leggier, standing 16 hands. He was back at the knee in both knees and had rather short pasterns. He was an excellent mover and tended to pass his athleticism and his low, fluid gait on to his foals, though they were often back at the knee as well. He tended to be headstrong as a racehorse and did not rate well, and he did not care for very firm going. As a stallion, he had an easy-going disposition.
As a stallion
Danehill led the Australian general sire list nine times (in 1994/95 through 1996/97 and 1999/00 through 2004/05) and was the champion juvenile sire in that country six times. He led the English/Irish general sire list in 2005–2007 after being runner-up in 2001-2004 and was French champion sire in 2001 and 2007. He also led the American general sire list in 2001 according to Thoroughbred Times' rankings and was a three-time European champion juvenile sire. He was the English/Irish champion broodmare sire in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and led the corresponding American list in 2011. He was also champion broodmare sire in Australia in 2004/05 and in Turkey in 2008.
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Danehill sired 1608 winners (64.3%) and 347 stakes winners (13.9%) from 2499 named foals; The Blood-Horse credits Danehill with 355 stakes winners (14.2%). Although a notable source of speed and precocity, Danehill was a remarkably versatile stallion who could get top runners all over the distance spectrum depending on the proclivities and pedigrees of his mates.
Notable progeny
Al Maher (AUS), Aqua d'Amore (AUS), Aquarelliste (FR), Arena (AUS), Arlington Road (AUS), Artiste Royal (IRE), Asia (AUS), Aussie Rules (USA), Banks Hill (IRE), Blackfriars (AUS), Cacique (IRE), Camarena (AUS), Catbird (AUS), Champs Elysees (GB), Clodovil (IRE), Danarani (AUS), Danasinga (AUS), Dane Ripper (AUS), Danehill Dancer (IRE), Danelagh (AUS), Danenedri (AUS), Danestorm (AUS), Danewin (AUS), Daney Boy (AUS), Danish (IRE), Dansili (GB), Danske (NZ), Danzero (AUS), Darci Brahma (NZ), Dashing Eagle (AUS), Desert King (IRE), Dress to Thrill (IRE), Dylan Thomas (IRE), Echelon (GB), Elvstroem (AUS), Emerald Dream (AUS), Exceed and Excel (AUS), Fairy King Prawn (AUS), Fastnet Rock (AUS), Fine Motion (IRE), Flying Spur (AUS), George Washington (IRE), Grey Lilas (IRE), Ha Ha (AUS), Holy Roman Emperor (IRE), Horatio Nelson (IRE), Indian Danehill (IRE), Intercontinental (GB), Johann Cruyff (GB), Joie Denise (AUS), Keeper (AUS), Kissing Cousin (IRE), Kurtaran (IRE), Laisserfaire (AUS), Landseer (GB), Larrocha (AUS), Light Jig (GB), Luas Line (IRE), Lucky Owners (NZ), Magic of Sydney (AUS), Magical Miss (AUS), Merlene (AUS), Miss Danehill (AUS), Mountain High (IRE), Mozart (IRE), Mr Murphy (AUS), North Light (IRE), Nothin' Leica Dane (AUS), Oratorio (IRE), Peeping Fawn (USA), Platinum Scissors (AUS), Promising Lead (GB), Punctilious (GB), Redoute's Choice (AUS), Regal Rose (GB), Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), Rumpelstiltskin (IRE), Scintillation (AUS), Shinzig (AUS), Simply Perfect (GB), Spartacus (IRE), Special Dane (AUS), The Duke (AUS), Tiger Hill (IRE), Viking Ruler (AUS), Wannabe Grand (IRE), Westerner (GB), Zipping (AUS)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Danehill was bred and owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, which sold the horse to the partnership of Coolmore Stud and Arrowfield Stud for a reported £4 milllion (US$6.5 million) at the conclusion of Danehill's racing career. Danehill was trained by Jeremy Tree. He initially shuttled between Arrowfield Stud in New South Wales and Coolmore's home base in Ireland, but after Coolmore established an Australian division, Coolmore acquired full ownership of the stallion in a deal reportedly valued at US$24 million and shuttled him between their facilities. (The stallion also stood one Northern Hemisphere season in Japan.) In 2002, Coolmore management decided that shuttling to the Southern Hemisphere was placing too much strain on the then-16-year-old horse and announced that he would remain in Ireland permanently, though they made him available for breedings on Southern Hemisphere time. Damehill died at Coolmore Ireland in May 2003 as the result of a paddock accident in which he suffered a fractured hip.
Pedigree notes
Danehill is inbred 3x3 to the excellent broodmare Natalma and 5x5 to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a full brother to Grade II winner Eagle Eyed, to Grade/Group IIII winners Harpia and Shibboleth and to Family, dam of English Group III winner Dundonnell (by First Defence). He is also a half brother to Group II-placed French listed stakes winner Euphonic (by The Minstrel).
Danehill is out of Razyana, whose half sister You're My Lady (by Roberto) produced American stakes winner Youthful Legs (by Explodent) and South African stakes winners Lady's Delight (by Local Talent), Daphne Donnelly (by Golden Thatch) and Announce (by National Assembly). You're My Lady is also the second dam of multiple Australian Group I winner Diatribe, multiple South African Group III winner Queen's Bay and Australian Group III winner Al Samer and is the third dam of 2009 South African Derby (SAF-I) winner Bouquet-Garni and 2009 Australian Group III winner The Voice.
Razyana, in turn, is out of the Buckpasser mare Spring Adieu, a half sister to multiple champion and epochal sire Northern Dancer (by Nearctic) and to stakes winners Native Victor (by Victorian Era), Regal Dancer (by Grey Monarch) and Born a Lady (by Tentam). The last-named mare is the dam of Grade II-placed multiple stakes winner Arrowtown (by Mr. Prospector), the second dam of Japanese Group III winner Antonio Barows and the third dam of Japanese Group III winner Tagano Azaghal. Spring Adieu is also a half sister to Raise the Standard (by Hoist the Flag), dam of 1984 Prix d'Aumale (FR-III) winner Coup de Folie (by Halo) and second dam of 1989 French champion 2-year-old male and important sire Machiavellian, 1993 French champion 2-year-old filly Coup de Genie, 1992 Prix Jacques Le Marois (FR-I) winner Exit to Nowhere, 1998 Prix Morny (FR-I) winner Orpen, French Group II winner Hydro Calido and French Group III winner Ocean of Wisdom.
Spring Adieu and her siblings were produced from Natalma, also the dam of Arctic Dancer (by Nearctic), dam of 1972 Canadian Horse of the Year La Prevoyante (by Buckpasser) and second dam of Grade II winner Drapeau Tricolore and French Group III winner Dampierre, and of Native Era (by Victorian Era), second dam of Australian Group III winner Sky Trial. Stakes-placed on the track in her own right, Natalma is a full sister to Folk Dancer, a stakes winner in Canada as a juvenile. She is also a half sister to 1955 Astarita Stakes winner Cosmah (by Cosmic Bomb), the 1974 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, whose foals include three-time American champion filly Tosmah (by Tim Tam) and two-time American champion sire Halo (by Hail to Reason). In addition, Natalma is a half sister to Bubbling Beauty (by Hasty Road), whose son Arctic Tern (by Sea-Bird) won the 1977 Prix Ganay (FR-I) and was the French champion sire of 1986.
Fun facts
Race record
9 starts, 4 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$284,502 (includes converted English and French earnings)
1989:
- Won Ladbrokes Sprint Cup (ENG-I, 6FT, Haydock)
- Won Cork and Orrery Stakes (ENG-III, 6FT, Ascot; new course record 1:12.95)
- Won Ladbrokes European Free Handicap (ENG-L, 7FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd General Accident Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-I, 8FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Carroll Foundation July Cup (ENG-G1, 6FT, Newmarket)
Assessments
Rated at 100 pounds by Timeform as a juvenile.
Rated at 126 pounds by Timeform as a 3-year-old.
Led the International Classification for European 3-year-old sprinters of 1989.
As an individual
A well-balanced, athletic, muscular bay horse with powerful hindquarters and a strong hind leg, Danehill resembled his sire Danzig but was somewhat taller and leggier, standing 16 hands. He was back at the knee in both knees and had rather short pasterns. He was an excellent mover and tended to pass his athleticism and his low, fluid gait on to his foals, though they were often back at the knee as well. He tended to be headstrong as a racehorse and did not rate well, and he did not care for very firm going. As a stallion, he had an easy-going disposition.
As a stallion
Danehill led the Australian general sire list nine times (in 1994/95 through 1996/97 and 1999/00 through 2004/05) and was the champion juvenile sire in that country six times. He led the English/Irish general sire list in 2005–2007 after being runner-up in 2001-2004 and was French champion sire in 2001 and 2007. He also led the American general sire list in 2001 according to Thoroughbred Times' rankings and was a three-time European champion juvenile sire. He was the English/Irish champion broodmare sire in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and led the corresponding American list in 2011. He was also champion broodmare sire in Australia in 2004/05 and in Turkey in 2008.
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Danehill sired 1608 winners (64.3%) and 347 stakes winners (13.9%) from 2499 named foals; The Blood-Horse credits Danehill with 355 stakes winners (14.2%). Although a notable source of speed and precocity, Danehill was a remarkably versatile stallion who could get top runners all over the distance spectrum depending on the proclivities and pedigrees of his mates.
Notable progeny
Al Maher (AUS), Aqua d'Amore (AUS), Aquarelliste (FR), Arena (AUS), Arlington Road (AUS), Artiste Royal (IRE), Asia (AUS), Aussie Rules (USA), Banks Hill (IRE), Blackfriars (AUS), Cacique (IRE), Camarena (AUS), Catbird (AUS), Champs Elysees (GB), Clodovil (IRE), Danarani (AUS), Danasinga (AUS), Dane Ripper (AUS), Danehill Dancer (IRE), Danelagh (AUS), Danenedri (AUS), Danestorm (AUS), Danewin (AUS), Daney Boy (AUS), Danish (IRE), Dansili (GB), Danske (NZ), Danzero (AUS), Darci Brahma (NZ), Dashing Eagle (AUS), Desert King (IRE), Dress to Thrill (IRE), Dylan Thomas (IRE), Echelon (GB), Elvstroem (AUS), Emerald Dream (AUS), Exceed and Excel (AUS), Fairy King Prawn (AUS), Fastnet Rock (AUS), Fine Motion (IRE), Flying Spur (AUS), George Washington (IRE), Grey Lilas (IRE), Ha Ha (AUS), Holy Roman Emperor (IRE), Horatio Nelson (IRE), Indian Danehill (IRE), Intercontinental (GB), Johann Cruyff (GB), Joie Denise (AUS), Keeper (AUS), Kissing Cousin (IRE), Kurtaran (IRE), Laisserfaire (AUS), Landseer (GB), Larrocha (AUS), Light Jig (GB), Luas Line (IRE), Lucky Owners (NZ), Magic of Sydney (AUS), Magical Miss (AUS), Merlene (AUS), Miss Danehill (AUS), Mountain High (IRE), Mozart (IRE), Mr Murphy (AUS), North Light (IRE), Nothin' Leica Dane (AUS), Oratorio (IRE), Peeping Fawn (USA), Platinum Scissors (AUS), Promising Lead (GB), Punctilious (GB), Redoute's Choice (AUS), Regal Rose (GB), Rock of Gibraltar (IRE), Rumpelstiltskin (IRE), Scintillation (AUS), Shinzig (AUS), Simply Perfect (GB), Spartacus (IRE), Special Dane (AUS), The Duke (AUS), Tiger Hill (IRE), Viking Ruler (AUS), Wannabe Grand (IRE), Westerner (GB), Zipping (AUS)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Danehill was bred and owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, which sold the horse to the partnership of Coolmore Stud and Arrowfield Stud for a reported £4 milllion (US$6.5 million) at the conclusion of Danehill's racing career. Danehill was trained by Jeremy Tree. He initially shuttled between Arrowfield Stud in New South Wales and Coolmore's home base in Ireland, but after Coolmore established an Australian division, Coolmore acquired full ownership of the stallion in a deal reportedly valued at US$24 million and shuttled him between their facilities. (The stallion also stood one Northern Hemisphere season in Japan.) In 2002, Coolmore management decided that shuttling to the Southern Hemisphere was placing too much strain on the then-16-year-old horse and announced that he would remain in Ireland permanently, though they made him available for breedings on Southern Hemisphere time. Damehill died at Coolmore Ireland in May 2003 as the result of a paddock accident in which he suffered a fractured hip.
Pedigree notes
Danehill is inbred 3x3 to the excellent broodmare Natalma and 5x5 to six-time English/Irish champion sire Hyperion, winner of the 1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a full brother to Grade II winner Eagle Eyed, to Grade/Group IIII winners Harpia and Shibboleth and to Family, dam of English Group III winner Dundonnell (by First Defence). He is also a half brother to Group II-placed French listed stakes winner Euphonic (by The Minstrel).
Danehill is out of Razyana, whose half sister You're My Lady (by Roberto) produced American stakes winner Youthful Legs (by Explodent) and South African stakes winners Lady's Delight (by Local Talent), Daphne Donnelly (by Golden Thatch) and Announce (by National Assembly). You're My Lady is also the second dam of multiple Australian Group I winner Diatribe, multiple South African Group III winner Queen's Bay and Australian Group III winner Al Samer and is the third dam of 2009 South African Derby (SAF-I) winner Bouquet-Garni and 2009 Australian Group III winner The Voice.
Razyana, in turn, is out of the Buckpasser mare Spring Adieu, a half sister to multiple champion and epochal sire Northern Dancer (by Nearctic) and to stakes winners Native Victor (by Victorian Era), Regal Dancer (by Grey Monarch) and Born a Lady (by Tentam). The last-named mare is the dam of Grade II-placed multiple stakes winner Arrowtown (by Mr. Prospector), the second dam of Japanese Group III winner Antonio Barows and the third dam of Japanese Group III winner Tagano Azaghal. Spring Adieu is also a half sister to Raise the Standard (by Hoist the Flag), dam of 1984 Prix d'Aumale (FR-III) winner Coup de Folie (by Halo) and second dam of 1989 French champion 2-year-old male and important sire Machiavellian, 1993 French champion 2-year-old filly Coup de Genie, 1992 Prix Jacques Le Marois (FR-I) winner Exit to Nowhere, 1998 Prix Morny (FR-I) winner Orpen, French Group II winner Hydro Calido and French Group III winner Ocean of Wisdom.
Spring Adieu and her siblings were produced from Natalma, also the dam of Arctic Dancer (by Nearctic), dam of 1972 Canadian Horse of the Year La Prevoyante (by Buckpasser) and second dam of Grade II winner Drapeau Tricolore and French Group III winner Dampierre, and of Native Era (by Victorian Era), second dam of Australian Group III winner Sky Trial. Stakes-placed on the track in her own right, Natalma is a full sister to Folk Dancer, a stakes winner in Canada as a juvenile. She is also a half sister to 1955 Astarita Stakes winner Cosmah (by Cosmic Bomb), the 1974 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, whose foals include three-time American champion filly Tosmah (by Tim Tam) and two-time American champion sire Halo (by Hail to Reason). In addition, Natalma is a half sister to Bubbling Beauty (by Hasty Road), whose son Arctic Tern (by Sea-Bird) won the 1977 Prix Ganay (FR-I) and was the French champion sire of 1986.
Fun facts
- When Danehill stopped shuttling to Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season, his replacement in the Coolmore Australia stallion barn was Giant's Causeway, later a three-time champion sire in the United States.
- Danehill was the first stallion to sire 300 stakes winners during his career. He reached this milestone on August 20, 2005, when his daughter Nevis won the Bacardi Breezer Toy Show Quality Stakes, a listed event in Australia.
- On Danehill's death, Coolmore received an insurance payout of £36 million.
- Danehill was buried standing up, a practice that Coolmore stud manager Peter O'Brien attributed to the Arabs and knights of the late Middle Ages.
- Like his sire Danzig, Danehill was homozygous for the genes producing bay coloration and had no chestnuts among his progeny.
- The Danehill Stakes is a Group II race for 3-year-olds at Flemington racecourse in Australia. It is staged over 1200 meters on turf.
