Danehill has died of a freak accident at Coolmore Stud. He was being hand grazed at the time. The champion sire was 17, his sons having just completed a 1-2 in the French 2000 Guineas. 

A son of outstanding sire Danzig, Danehill was produced by His Majesty mare Razyana. His full brothers Eagle Eyed and Shibboleth both became Group/Graded stakes winners. Eagle Eyed produced Grade 1 hero Peeping Tom before being exported to Turkey. 

Danehill was a top class racehorse, winning the Ladbrokes Sprint Cup and running a gallant third in Nashwan’s English 2000 Guineas, defeating star miler Markofdistinction while doing so. Bred by Khalid Abdullah, for whom he raced, the colt was purchased by Coolmore Stud where he became one of the greatest contemporary stallions in the world. 

Danehill first became known as an exciting sire prospect when he became champion freshman and two year old sire in Australia with his first crop. He became a true legend down under, where he led the sires list six times. Danehill’s speciality was the Golden Slipper, a race progeny of his won five times.

Danehill looked promising in the Northern Hemisphere when his first few crops produced the Group 1 winners Kissing Cousin, Danehill Dancer, Desert King and Wannabe Grand. His popularity soared in both hemispheres and he was regarded as Coolmore’s second best sire to the great Sadler’s Wells. He narrowly lost out on becoming champion sire in UK/IRE in 1997 where his stud mate just touched him off.

Further crops have produced the likes of the ill fated pair of Mozart and Landseer, Aquarelliste, Banks Hill, Clodovil, Fine Motion

Regal Rose, Dansili and Horse of the Year, Rock of Gibraltar. In South Africa Danehill is represented by the likes of Laisserfaire, Stormy Hill and Da-Man.

Danehill’s age and value meant he did not shuttle the last season although a group of mares were bred to him and sold to New Zealand. 

It is early days to assess him as a sire of sires. Promising sire sons include Flying Spur, Danehill Dancer and Danewin. Untested sons include Rock of Gibraltar who shuttles for the first time this year. 

His daughters have produced Unworldly and the Queen Mary heroines Romantic Myth and Romantic Liason.

His loss is tragic for Coolmore, their remaining star sire, Sadler’s Wells getting on-22, and the majority of their sires unproven. 

Danehill’s influence is truly global and has touched every corner of the globe where there is horse racing.