An era in world thoroughbred bloodstock ended yesterday with the death of super stallion Danehill at his home, Coolmore Stud in Ireland. Details of the horse's death could not be confirmed late last night, but some reports suggested a paddock accident, while others were suggesting a ruptured spleen was the cause. The sire of the only Hong Kong horse to win abroad at Group One level in Fairy King Prawn, and a prolific winner through all grades in recent years, Danehill was 17 years old and with some years of his phenomenal career still ahead.
His dominance in Hong Kong was such that around 10 per cent of the horses based at Sha Tin were at one stage by the brilliant son of Danzig. A top-class sprinter with a Group One Haydock Park Sprint win and a Timeform rating of 126, Danehill will nevertheless be remembered for his performances in the breeding side. One of the pioneer shuttle stallions, Danehill turned upside down many of the old theories about stallion usage rates as he served prodigious numbers of mares. He was constantly on the move between the alternating breeding seasons of the northern and southern hemispheres, when he stood at Coolmore in Ireland and in Australia. He became the first stallion to lead a sires' championship in both hemispheres.
After initially enjoying a much greater impact on racing in Australia during his early years at stud, his northern hemisphere profile grew significantly over time and perhaps culminated last northern season in the champion miler, Rock Of Gibraltar, who strung together seven successive Group One wins. Danehill's best Hong Kong product was the 2000 Yasuda Kinen winner, 1999 Hong Kong Sprint victor and dual Horse of the Year, Fairy King Prawn, ranked the world's joint-best sprinter in the 2001 racing year. He has also been responsible for Hong Kong Group One winners Johann Cruyff, Jeune King Prawn and King Of Danes. This season he has made his influence felt again with Group winner Dr More and his granddaughter Elegant Fashion (by Danewin) taking out the Derby.
Danehill has been the must-have sire for Hong Kong's International Sale and has annually provided the top lots there. His influence only strengthened last December when, although Danehills were four of the five highest-priced horses at the sale, he was tipped out for the number one price by Desert King - one of his many successful stallion sons.