The death has been announced of Golden Slipper Stakes winner Danzero, the first Group 1 winner for Danehill.
Danzero (91 Danehill – Confidentially, by Kaoru Star) was found dead in his paddock at Rosemont Stud in Victoria on Sunday.
Danzero joined Rosemont in 2011 after spending the bulk of his active stud career at Arrrowfield in New South Wales. He also shuttled for three seasons to Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket at the start of this century where he got Group 2 winners Soar.
Bred by the Arrowfield Group, Danzero was in the first southern hemisphere crop of Danehill which also included Group 1 winners Danarani, Danewin and Joie Denise.
He won four of his nine starts when trained by Lee Freedman including the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at two.
From 1042 runners he is the sire of 40 stakes winners, headed by six Group 1 winners including Dance Hero, who emulated his sire in winning the Golden Slipper, and Australian Derby winner Fairway.
As a broodmare sire he is responsible 31 stakes winners, five of them Group 1, including Exosphere, Danzdanzdance and Kolding.
Rosemont’s principal Anthony Mithen said Danzero was a farm favourite with the staff’.
“He has been in the best health for the nine years he’s been with us. He refused to be boxed at night,” Mithen said in a statement.
“We built him his own box before he arrived, only to learn he hated being cooped up and just wanted to spend his days and nights outside – rugged and roaming. I think he spent only three nights in that box ever.
“Our longest-serving employee Suzanne Mowat, who has looked after him for the best part of a decade, found him Sunday morning, resting peacefully. He will now be buried just outside his paddock.”