Double Danehill, Where are We At?

Tara Madgwick - Monday February 13
When Saturday's Group III winner Psychologist won the Group III MRC Blue Diamond Prelude on the same day two years ago, she made history for being the first stakes-winner anywhere in the world to carry a double cross of champion sire Danehill, which got us thinking as to what has happened with this much discussed double up since then.

According to Arion there are 454 named foals now bred this way and 259 of them have raced yielding 94 winners.

Psychologist (pictured www.stevehart.com.au) (by Choisir from a Danzero mare) has been joined by two more stakes-winners, the European bred Group III winner Ladies are Forever (by the Danehill Dancer sire Monsieur Bond from a Danetime mare) and Perth stakes-winner Single Spice (by Not a Single Doubt, from a Galileo mare, whose grand-dam is by Danehill).

Interestingly there have been a further 14 stakes-placed horses as well as a couple of handy two year-old winners this season in Darlington Abbey and Repousser.

One thing that jumps out at you when looking at the list of winners bred this way is speed - the majority have won from 1000 to 1200 metres and few beyond 1400. This is not unexpected, but worth considering if you have a particular goal in mind for a yearling purchase.

As time goes on, the success rate of this cross will inevitably increase as the Danehill factor in the pedigrees gets further away and is mixed with more diverse lines.

Golden Slipper winner Sebring, whose first yearlings are being sold this year, is an interesting prospect and may well herald some success for the double up as he carries Danehill back in his third remove, his dam Purespeed, by the Golden Slipper winner Flying Spur, who is of course by Danehill.

A son of More Than Ready (USA), Sebring owes very little if anything in his physical appearance to his Danehill blood, which may be a good thing with a significant number of his yearlings carrying the double cross including six to be offered at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale at the end of the month and a further ten at Inglis Easter.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Western Empire Turns Back the Clock
The winner of the 2021 Group 1 WATC Railway Stakes and Group II Western Australian Derby, the 6-year-old Iffraaj (GB) gelding Western Empire turned back the clock to win Sunday’s $200,000 Group III Tabtouch Northam Stakes (1300m).
Kristilli Added to Magic Millions Supplementary Mares
The build up to this month's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast has intensified with the release today of the first supplementary lots.
War Decree Fee Rise
Inglewood Stud’s young stallion War Decree will stand at a slightly increased fee of $7,000 +GST in 2024, up from $5,500 in 2023.
Mystik Dan Triumphs in Dramatic Kentucky Derby
While the close relatives Sierra Leone and Forever Young (JPN) engaged in a not-so-friendly family spat down the straight, Mystik Dan enjoyed an unhindered rail run to capture the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Dowms, completing a memorable weekend for jockey Brian Hernandez Jr and trainer Ken McPeek.
Danon Ayers Rock Back in Business
The winner of both of his starts at two, Mosheen’s son Danon Ayers Rock (JPN) lost his unbeaten record when finishing midfield in his seasonal debut in the Group II Deep Impact Kinen at Nakayama on March 3 before returning to the winner’s circle in Saturday’s Listed Principal Stakes (2000m) at Tokyo.
Yarraman Park Celebrate Historic Achievement - I Am Invincible Sets New Record
One of Australia's premier thoroughbred studs, Yarraman Park proudly acknowledges a momentous milestone in the world of horse racing and breeding in Australia.
Another Guineas Upset and Shock Result
The Group I Newmarket One Thousand Guineas (1m) for the fillies delivered a surprise package of a result as did the colts edition on Saturday with victory going to the half-sister by Kingman to Woodside Park Stud’s new recruit Benbatl (GB).
Sires With Winners - Sunday May 5
Here is the full list of 56 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Oaks Filly for Wootton Bassett
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is a big name in the world of soccer, but is also making a mark as a racehorse owner with Wootton Bassett (GB) filly Gala Real, who he co-owns, showing serious Group I potential with a storming win in the Listed Prix de la Seine (2200m) at Longchamp on Sunday.
Fastnet Rock Mare Stay Alert Wins G2 Dahlia Stakes
The form of outstanding Fastnet Rock mare Via Sistina (IRE) was once again franked overnight in the UK when the Fastnet Rock mare she defeated to win the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes last year came out and won the Group II Dahlia Stakes Stakes (1m1f) at her first run this season.