Part of Danehill's fascination as a stallion prospect stemmed from his 3 x 3 inbreeding to Northern Dancer's dam, Natalma. Natalma's daughter, Spring Adieu (by Buckpasser), is Danehill's second dam.
Multiple champion sire Danehill. who sired 2001 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) winner Banks Hill and European standout Rock of Gibraltar, suffered a fatal injury in an accident at Coolmore Stud in Ireland this morning. The 17-year-old son of Danzig was being hand grazed in his paddock when the accident occurred.Coolmore manager Christy Grassick commented: "Danehill was a phenomenal stallion and will be a big loss to the breeding industry worldwide."Alternative mating plans are being arranged for the shareholders and clients whose mares are not yet in foal.Danehill's total of 212 stakes winners is only two behind leader and fellow Coolmore stallion Sadler's Wells.Danehill's tremendous number of stakes winners is due primarily to shuttling to Australia, a practice he started in 1990 and continued through 2001, but in no way should detract it from his outstanding accomplishments. Coolmore curtailed the practice last year. Danehill, who also stood a year in Japan, has sired 2,210 foals. This year alone, 17-year-old Danehill (Danzig -- Razyana, by His Majesty) is represented by 17 stakes winners, including the winner of the May 11 French Two Thousand Guineas (Fr-I), Clodovil. The runner-up, Catcher in the Rye, also is by Danehill. Last year, Rock of Gibraltar stretched his group I win streak to seven by capturing five group I events and ran second in the NetJets Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT). Rock of Gibraltar stands at Coolmore and will shuttle to the farm's Australian branch.Bred by Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms, Danehill was a group I-winning sprinter for Abdullah. Coolmore, in partnership with Arrowfield Stud in Australia, bought the Northern Dancer grandson for a reported £4 million for stallion duty.
