Coolmore pensioner Danehill Dancer (Ire) (Danehill–Mira Adonde, by Sharpen Up {GB}) was euthanized last weekend due to the infirmities of old age, Coolmore announced Monday. The 24-year-old had been enjoying life at Coolmore Stud since his retirement from covering duties in 2014. Bred by Larry and Kip McCreery, he was purchased by Demi O'Byrne as a yearling at Goffs in 1994 for Ir£38,000. The son of Danehill was trained for Michael Tabor by Neville Callaghan in Newmarket to win both the G1 Phoenix S. at Leopardstown and the G1 National S. at The Curragh as a 2-year-old en route to champion juvenile honours in his native land. He reappeared as a 3-year-old to win the G3 Greenham S. with his best subsequent run being a third in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville later that summer, before retiring with a mark of 11-4-1-1, and earnings of $287,130.
He retired to stud at Coolmore where he made an immediate impact off a low covering fee, while also shuttling to Coolmore Australia. Many breeders who identified his early promise were well rewarded in the sales ring as his fee rose from just Ir£3,500 in 2000 to a high of €115,000 in 2007 and 2008.
Danehill Dancer became champion sire in Britain and Ireland in 2009 and was Champion 2-Year-Old Sire on three occasions.
“Danehill Dancer was a wonderful sire and has left a significant legacy at Coolmore through his sons Mastercraftsman (Ire) and Choisir (Aus) and grandson Starspangledbanner (Aus), while The Gurkha (Ire) is a very exciting sire prospect for the future,” said Coolmore's M.V. Magnier on Monday. The aforementioned Mastercraftsman and Choisir typified the stallion's ability to sire brilliant horses that excelled over a variety of trips. Mastercraftsman showed top-class form up to 10 furlongs, while Choisir was an explosive sprinter. As a broodmare sire, Danehill Dancer enjoyed a stellar year in 2016 being responsible for multiple Group 1 winners The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Acknowledging Danehill Dancer's influence as a broodmare sire, Magnier added, “His brilliant daughter Legatissimo (Ire) was scanned in foal to Galileo this morning and Minding and Alice Springs will be very welcome additions to the broodmare band once they finish their racing careers.”
From 17 crops of racing age Danehill Dancer sired 170 stakes winners, five champions (including in both hemispheres) and 21 Group/Grade 1 winners. In addition to those mentioned above he also sired Classic winning fillies Dancing Rain (Ire) and Speciosa (Ire) while last year he was represented by the Jean-Claude Rouget trained Qemah (Ire) who won both the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot and the G1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville.
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