Green Dancer (USA)
April 14, 1972 – December 5, 2000
Nijinsky II (CAN) x Green Valley II (FR), by Val de Loir (FR)
Family 16-c
April 14, 1972 – December 5, 2000
Nijinsky II (CAN) x Green Valley II (FR), by Val de Loir (FR)
Family 16-c
One of the handsomest sons of Nijinsky II, Green Dancer was near the top of his generation in Europe at both 2 and 3 and was among Nijinsky II's best sons at stud as well. He was generally considered a miler but was able to carry his speed over 10 furlongs and at stud was capable of siring progeny that stayed better than he himself did.
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, 1,563,190 francs
1974:
1975:
Assessments:
Rated second at 133 pounds on the Free Handicap for English-raced juveniles of 1974, 1 pound below champion Grundy.
Rated second on the Handicap Optional for French-raced juveniles of 1974.
Earned a Timeform rating of 132 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A handsome, lengthy bay horse of great quality, Green Dancer stood 16 hands. He was a free-running horse and keen to race.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Green Dancer sired 630 winners (57.7%) and 89 stakes winners (8.2%) from 1091 named foals. He was not a prepotent sire, only inconsistently transmitting his own exceptional physique, but his best were typically good-sized, scopy horses that were at their best over turf with some give to it.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
Aryenne (FR), Eishin Preston (USA), Fantastic Look (USA), First Waltz (FR), Gandria (CAN), Green Tune (USA), Greinton (GB), Icona (USA), Market Booster (USA), Maximova (FR), Northern Emerald (USA), Oak Dancer (GB), Senor Pete (USA), Suave Dancer (USA), Vilzak (USA), Will Dancer (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Black Minnaloushe (USA), Confessional (USA), Halling (USA), Indian Danehill (IRE), Jeune (GB), Kalanisi (IRE), Lonesome Glory (USA), Macoumba (USA), Mossflower (USA), Nasr El Arab (USA), Peaks and Valleys (USA), Pennekamp (USA), Quest for Fame (GB), Riva Diva (AUS), Sandpit (BRZ), Septieme Ciel (USA), Spook Express (SAF), Taking Risks (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Green Dancer was bred by Germaine Wertheimer (née Revel), widow of Pierre Wertheimer. He was owned by her son Jacques Wertheimer and was trained by Alec Head. He entered stud in France in 1976 and was transferred to Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, in early 1982. Green Dancer was pensioned in late November 2000 but was humanely destroyed only a week later following a rapid deterioration of his health. He was buried at Gainesway.
Pedigree notes
Green Dancer is inbred 5x5 to Blue Larkspur. He is a full brother to 1986 Golden Gate Handicap (USA-G2) winner Val Danseur and a half brother to French Group 3 winners Ercolano (by Sir Ivor) and Pink Valley (by Never Bend; dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Pink, by Northern Dancer) and to French stakes winners Sir Raleigh (by Sir Ivor) and Soviet Lad (by Nureyev). Green Dancer is also a half brother to the influential broodmare Vallee Dansante (by Lyphard) and to Irish Valley (by Irish River), dam of 1995 European champion 2-year-old male Alhaarth (by Unfuwain) and second dam of 2010 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Makfi.
Green Dancer's dam Green Valley II is a half sister to French stakes winner Green Herb (by Herbager) and to El Palomar (by Le Mesnil), dam of 1979 Italian champion 2-year-old male Pareo. Green Valley II is also a half sister to Foxy One (by Sanctus), second dam of 1985 Norsk Oaks (NOR-G1) winner Sangelin, and to Pola de Raggia (by River Peace), third dam of 2003 Prix Maurice de Gheest (FR-G1) winner Polezza.
Green Valley II was produced from Sly Pola (by Spy Song), winner of the 1959 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp and three other stakes races. Sly Pola is a half sister to the very quick Polamia (by Mahmoud) who won the 1957 Prix de Bois and produced five stakes winners including 1964 French champion 2-year-old male Grey Dawn II (by Herbager; a very good sire), 1966 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) winner Right Away (by Right Royal II; dam of stakes winner Timmy's Way and second dam of French Group II winners High Sierra and Garde Royale); and 1968 Prix La Rochette winner Mia Pola (by Relko). Through Mia Pola, Polamia is the ancestress of 1995 European Horse of the Year Dream Well and Grade/Group 1 winners Super Sheila, Metamorphose and Sulamani. Sly Pola is also a half sister to Takawalk (by Native Dancer), winner of the 1963 Prix La Rochette.
Books and media
Green Dancer is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
Last updated: February 21, 2024
Race record
8 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, 1,563,190 francs
1974:
- Won Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1, 8FT, Doncaster)
- 2nd Prix des Chenes (FR-G3, 1600mT, Longchamp)
1975:
- Won Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French Two Thousand Guineas) (FR-G1, 1600mT, Longchamp)
- Won Prix Lupin (FR-G1, 2100mT, Longchamp)
- 2nd Prix Niel (FR-G3, 2200mT, Longchamp)
Assessments:
Rated second at 133 pounds on the Free Handicap for English-raced juveniles of 1974, 1 pound below champion Grundy.
Rated second on the Handicap Optional for French-raced juveniles of 1974.
Earned a Timeform rating of 132 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A handsome, lengthy bay horse of great quality, Green Dancer stood 16 hands. He was a free-running horse and keen to race.
As a stallion
According to statistics kept by The Jockey Club, Green Dancer sired 630 winners (57.7%) and 89 stakes winners (8.2%) from 1091 named foals. He was not a prepotent sire, only inconsistently transmitting his own exceptional physique, but his best were typically good-sized, scopy horses that were at their best over turf with some give to it.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1991.
- 3rd on the American broodmare sire list in 1995; 8th in 2000; 9th in 1994.
- 5th on the Australian broodmare sire list in 1994/1995.
- 7th on the combined English/Irish broodmare sire list in 2000.
- Led the French general sire list in 1991; 2nd in 1982; 4th in 1983 and 1984; 8th in 1980 and 1981.
- 6th on the French broodmare sire list in 1994; 7th in 1991; 8th in 1990; 10th in 1995 and 2000.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the French general sire list in 1991.
Notable progeny
Aryenne (FR), Eishin Preston (USA), Fantastic Look (USA), First Waltz (FR), Gandria (CAN), Green Tune (USA), Greinton (GB), Icona (USA), Market Booster (USA), Maximova (FR), Northern Emerald (USA), Oak Dancer (GB), Senor Pete (USA), Suave Dancer (USA), Vilzak (USA), Will Dancer (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Black Minnaloushe (USA), Confessional (USA), Halling (USA), Indian Danehill (IRE), Jeune (GB), Kalanisi (IRE), Lonesome Glory (USA), Macoumba (USA), Mossflower (USA), Nasr El Arab (USA), Peaks and Valleys (USA), Pennekamp (USA), Quest for Fame (GB), Riva Diva (AUS), Sandpit (BRZ), Septieme Ciel (USA), Spook Express (SAF), Taking Risks (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Green Dancer was bred by Germaine Wertheimer (née Revel), widow of Pierre Wertheimer. He was owned by her son Jacques Wertheimer and was trained by Alec Head. He entered stud in France in 1976 and was transferred to Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, in early 1982. Green Dancer was pensioned in late November 2000 but was humanely destroyed only a week later following a rapid deterioration of his health. He was buried at Gainesway.
Pedigree notes
Green Dancer is inbred 5x5 to Blue Larkspur. He is a full brother to 1986 Golden Gate Handicap (USA-G2) winner Val Danseur and a half brother to French Group 3 winners Ercolano (by Sir Ivor) and Pink Valley (by Never Bend; dam of multiple French Group 3 winner Pink, by Northern Dancer) and to French stakes winners Sir Raleigh (by Sir Ivor) and Soviet Lad (by Nureyev). Green Dancer is also a half brother to the influential broodmare Vallee Dansante (by Lyphard) and to Irish Valley (by Irish River), dam of 1995 European champion 2-year-old male Alhaarth (by Unfuwain) and second dam of 2010 Two Thousand Guineas (ENG-G1) winner Makfi.
Green Dancer's dam Green Valley II is a half sister to French stakes winner Green Herb (by Herbager) and to El Palomar (by Le Mesnil), dam of 1979 Italian champion 2-year-old male Pareo. Green Valley II is also a half sister to Foxy One (by Sanctus), second dam of 1985 Norsk Oaks (NOR-G1) winner Sangelin, and to Pola de Raggia (by River Peace), third dam of 2003 Prix Maurice de Gheest (FR-G1) winner Polezza.
Green Valley II was produced from Sly Pola (by Spy Song), winner of the 1959 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp and three other stakes races. Sly Pola is a half sister to the very quick Polamia (by Mahmoud) who won the 1957 Prix de Bois and produced five stakes winners including 1964 French champion 2-year-old male Grey Dawn II (by Herbager; a very good sire), 1966 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) winner Right Away (by Right Royal II; dam of stakes winner Timmy's Way and second dam of French Group II winners High Sierra and Garde Royale); and 1968 Prix La Rochette winner Mia Pola (by Relko). Through Mia Pola, Polamia is the ancestress of 1995 European Horse of the Year Dream Well and Grade/Group 1 winners Super Sheila, Metamorphose and Sulamani. Sly Pola is also a half sister to Takawalk (by Native Dancer), winner of the 1963 Prix La Rochette.
Books and media
Green Dancer is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
Last updated: February 21, 2024