Green Desert (USA)
April 16, 1983 – September 9, 2015
Danzig (USA) x Foreign Courier (USA), by Sir Ivor (USA)
American Family 4
April 16, 1983 – September 9, 2015
Danzig (USA) x Foreign Courier (USA), by Sir Ivor (USA)
American Family 4
Although he demonstrated ability at up to a mile, Green Desert turned in his best performances as a sprinter in England. At stud, he proved an excellent source of speed, but speed blessed with the ability to blend with stamina contributed by stouter mates. Through his sons Cape Cross, Invincible Spirit and Oasis Dream, he has founded a distinctly European branch of the Danzig male line.
Race record
14 starts, 5 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, £222,453
1985:
1986:
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 127 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A bay horse, Green Desert was on the small side but full of vitality and personality. Neatly made with good overall conformation, he had a very good shoulder and a little more rein length than often seen in Danzig's progeny. His action was fluent and at its best on firm going. He had good acceleration and was game and tenacious once on the lead.
As a stallion
Green Desert was the English champion freshman sire of 1900. He peaked at third on the English/Irish general sire list in 1994 and was fourth in 1991 and 1998; he was also seventh in 1992 and 2003, eighth in 1999 and 10th in 2002. As of January 21, 2015, Green Desert has sired 768 winners (62.0%) and 94 stakes winners (7.6%) from 1238 named foals, according to records kept by The Jockey Club. The Blood-Horse credits Green Desert with 101 stakes winners (8.2%).
Notable progeny
Bint Allayl (GB), Cape Cross (IRE), Desert Boy (IRE) (raced as Oriental Express in Hong Kong), Desert Lord (GB), Desert Prince (IRE), Heat Haze (GB), Invincible Spirit (IRE), Markab (GB), Oasis Dream (GB), Owington (GB), Rose Gypsy (GB), Sheikh Albadou (GB), Tamarisk (IRE), Volksraad (GB), White Heart (GB)
Connections
Green Desert was bred in Kentucky by Eaton Farms and Red Bull Stable. He was purchased by Darley for US$650,000 at the 1984 Keeneland September yearling sale and raced in the colors of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai. He was trained by Sir Michael Stoute. Following his racing career, he entered stud at Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Shadwell Stud in Norfolk, England. He moved to Nunnery Stud in 1990, remaining under the management of Darley Stallions. Green Desert was pensioned from stud duty in 2011 and lived out the remainder of his days at Nunnery. He was humanely destroyed on September 9, 2015, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Green Desert is inbred 4x5 to unbeaten champion racehorse and two-time English champion sire Nearco and 5x5 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud. He is a full brother to listed stakes winner Yousefia (by Danzig), dam of English Group III winner Mythical Girl (by Gone West) and second dam of Japanese Group II winner Dark Shadow and Turkish stakes winner Toruk Macto. He is a half brother to True Joy (by Zilzal), dam of German stakes winner Nans Joy (by In the Wings) and Group III-placed English stakes winner Eton Forever (by Oratorio) and the second dam of multiple Indian stakes winner Supreme Star and Group III-placed French stakes winner Kenouska. In addition, Green Desert is a half brother to Messenger Miss (by Danzig's champion sire son Danehill), dam of Australian stakes winner Werd. Green Desert's dam Foreign Courier is a half sister to nine stakes winners produced from the great broodmare Courtly Dee, the 1983 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Books and media
Green Desert is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
Race record
14 starts, 5 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, £222,453
1985:
- Won Flying Childers Stakes (ENG-II, 5FT, Doncaster)
- Won Anglia Television July Stakes (ENG-III, 6FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd O. C. L. Richmond Stakes (ENG-II, 6FT, Goodwood)
1986:
- Won Norcros July Cup (ENG-I, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won Vernons Sprint Cup (ENG-II, 6FT, Haydock)
- Won Ladbrokes Free Handicap (ENG, 7FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd General Accident Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I, 8FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd St. James's Palace Stakes (ENG-II, 8FT, Ascot)
- 3rd William Hill Sprint Championship Stakes (ENG-I, 5FT, York)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 127 pounds as a 3-year-old.
As an individual
A bay horse, Green Desert was on the small side but full of vitality and personality. Neatly made with good overall conformation, he had a very good shoulder and a little more rein length than often seen in Danzig's progeny. His action was fluent and at its best on firm going. He had good acceleration and was game and tenacious once on the lead.
As a stallion
Green Desert was the English champion freshman sire of 1900. He peaked at third on the English/Irish general sire list in 1994 and was fourth in 1991 and 1998; he was also seventh in 1992 and 2003, eighth in 1999 and 10th in 2002. As of January 21, 2015, Green Desert has sired 768 winners (62.0%) and 94 stakes winners (7.6%) from 1238 named foals, according to records kept by The Jockey Club. The Blood-Horse credits Green Desert with 101 stakes winners (8.2%).
Notable progeny
Bint Allayl (GB), Cape Cross (IRE), Desert Boy (IRE) (raced as Oriental Express in Hong Kong), Desert Lord (GB), Desert Prince (IRE), Heat Haze (GB), Invincible Spirit (IRE), Markab (GB), Oasis Dream (GB), Owington (GB), Rose Gypsy (GB), Sheikh Albadou (GB), Tamarisk (IRE), Volksraad (GB), White Heart (GB)
Connections
Green Desert was bred in Kentucky by Eaton Farms and Red Bull Stable. He was purchased by Darley for US$650,000 at the 1984 Keeneland September yearling sale and raced in the colors of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai. He was trained by Sir Michael Stoute. Following his racing career, he entered stud at Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum's Shadwell Stud in Norfolk, England. He moved to Nunnery Stud in 1990, remaining under the management of Darley Stallions. Green Desert was pensioned from stud duty in 2011 and lived out the remainder of his days at Nunnery. He was humanely destroyed on September 9, 2015, due to the infirmities of old age.
Pedigree notes
Green Desert is inbred 4x5 to unbeaten champion racehorse and two-time English champion sire Nearco and 5x5 to 1936 Derby Stakes winner Mahmoud. He is a full brother to listed stakes winner Yousefia (by Danzig), dam of English Group III winner Mythical Girl (by Gone West) and second dam of Japanese Group II winner Dark Shadow and Turkish stakes winner Toruk Macto. He is a half brother to True Joy (by Zilzal), dam of German stakes winner Nans Joy (by In the Wings) and Group III-placed English stakes winner Eton Forever (by Oratorio) and the second dam of multiple Indian stakes winner Supreme Star and Group III-placed French stakes winner Kenouska. In addition, Green Desert is a half brother to Messenger Miss (by Danzig's champion sire son Danehill), dam of Australian stakes winner Werd. Green Desert's dam Foreign Courier is a half sister to nine stakes winners produced from the great broodmare Courtly Dee, the 1983 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year.
Books and media
Green Desert is one of 75 stallions profiled in Tony Morris' Thoroughbred Stallions (1990, The Crowood Press).
