The influence of Danehill on current Australian pedigrees is such that a horse inbred to the son of Danzig barely raises an eyebrow – but is it successful?
Danehill blood is now so pervasive in Australia that it can be problematic for breeders when looking to mate mares that already carry him in their pedigree and the latest evidence is that the number of top-class racehorses inbred to Danehill compared to the numbers on the ground is not great.
Data provided by Arion shows that from the more than 3400 runners to date in Australia and New Zealand with duplications of Danehill within five generations there are only eight Gr 1 winners, notably the fillies Sunlight, Alizee, Danzdanzdance, Guelph and Seabrook.
Last Saturday’s Flemington Listed winner Bold Star is 3×3 to Danehill, his sire Needs Further (Encosta de Lago) out of a Danehill mare while his dam is by Danewin (Danehill).
Bold Star is the fourth stakeswinner for Gr 3 Carbine Club Stakes winner at Randwick Needs Further, who has the Gr 1 winner Mystic Journey from 254 foals of racing age generated from his base at Armidale Stud in Tasmania.
Needs Further also has the dual Tasmanian stakes winner Pateena Arena with a duplication of Danehill through her broodmare sire Ladoni.
Encosta de Lago’s Gr 1 winning son Northern Meteor sired the Gr 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour out of a Danehill mare and his Gr 1 winner and promising sire Zoustar is out of a mare by Redoute’s Choice (Danehill).
Furthermore, Zoustar’s best runner to date Sunlight has a duplication of Danehill, her maternal grandsire.
Arguably one of the best sire sons of Redoute’s Choice is Not A Single Doubt, the diminutive sprinter has sired seven stakes winners with duplications of Danehill.