Analysis
of our 58 Australian Group I winners for this season reveals the Danehill
sireline as still being the dominant force producing 15 Group I winners which
is more than double the number of elite winners produced by the next best
sireline.
Danehill died in 2003 and here we are 16 years later and he's still the most
influential force in the pedigrees of our Group I winners with 32 of them
carrying Danehill blood in some way, shape or form.
The evolution of his sireline is interesting to see play out with his champion
sons Redoute's Choice, Fastnet Rock and Exceed and Excel all producing Group I
winners in their own right as well as achieving Group I success with their sire
sons.
REDOUTE'S CHOICE – sire of
The Autumn Sun
Redoute's Choice sire sons –
Not a Single Doubt - sire of Kenedna, Qafila
Stratum – sire of Landy of Plenty
Time Thief – sire of In Her Time
Snitzel – sire of Trapeze Artist
Snitzel sire son-
Shamus Award – sire of Mr Quickie
FASTNET ROCK – sire of
Prince Fawaz
Fastnet Rock sire sons -
Smart Missile – sire of Maid of Heaven
Hinchinbrook – sire of Spright
EXCEED AND EXCEL – sire of Microphone
Exceed and Excel sire sons-
Sidestep – sire of Kiamichi
The Mr Prospector sireline produced seven Group I winners including Winx
the best horse in the country and probably the world, who is interestingly
Danehill free. The seven G1 winners for Mr P were all sired by shuttle horses
no longer available to Australian breeders with the exception of Darley's
Alizee, who is by Golden Slipper winner Sepoy.
Alizee is from a daughter of Exceed and Excel and has a double cross of
Danehill.
She's not the only Australian Group I winner this season with a double cross of
Danehill either as she joins a list that also includes Sunlight, Verry
Elleegant and Amphitrite.
The Sadler's Wells sireline also produced seven stakes-winners and
highlighted an emerging sire dynasty for the late High Chaparral (IRE) and his sire
sons.
High Chaparral sired Group I winner Princess Jenni, while his sons Dundeel and
So You Think had a Group I winner each in Castelvecchio and Nakeeta Jane.
The Sir Tristram (IRE) sireline refuses to lay down and delivered six
Group I winners with champion sire Lonhro and his champion son Pierro
delivering two each, while Savabeel and Zed also sired one apiece.
The Green Desert branch of the Danzig line produced five Group I winners
and is being seen worldwide as a growing influence largely through the deeds of
Invincible Spirit and his sire sons who include I Am Invincible, the most
successful Group I sire this season with four individual Group I winners.
The other branch of Green Desert moving forward at a rapid rate is that of
Galileo's half-brother Sea the Stars (by Green Desert sire Cape Cross), who
sired three Group winners at Royal Ascot last week including the Group I
winners Crystal Ocean and Stradivarius and in Australia this season gave us
Sydney Cup winner Shraaoh (IRE).