DANEHILL HEADS COOLMORE'S 2006 CHAMPIONS

16th January 2007

Much may have changed in the past couple of decades but some things are reassuringly consistent and nothing more so than that Coolmore will have stood European's champion sire.

The late Danehill has taken the 2006 title after a year in which his runners earned 4.6 million euros in prize money in Europe. His success means that the title has amazingly gone to a Coolmore stallion for every one of the last 17 years.

"Coolmore Stud's great stallion was represented by five individual G1 winners in Europe, the highest total of the year," wrote Dr Sieglinde McGee in The Irish Field of Danehill. "When a worldwide perspective is taken, Danehill's 2006 tally of eight individual G1 winners is remarkable and, once again, the highest of any stallion for the year."

But Danehill's son Danehill Dancer (whose 2006 three-year-olds were conceived for a fee of just 9,000 euros) was snapping at his heals in second place with Montjeu third and his sire Sadler's Wells in fifth.
Indeed it was a great year overall for Danehill Dancer, who beat Danehill to be Champion Two-Year-Old Sire in Europe.

"Danehill Dancer is continuing to produce the sort of results to suggest he may one day top the table," added McGee. "His dozen European black-type winners were headed by G1 1000 Guineas heroine Speciosa and G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Miss Beatrix. Seven of the other 10 were successful at pattern level."

Meanwhile Galileo was another to enjoy an incredible campaign and he was crowned Europe's Champion Second-Season Sire, with his progeny earning more than double that of his nearest pursuer, and for good measure Montjeu was Champion Third-Season Sire.

Rock Of Gibraltar, who has a string of well-regarded young performers to represent him this year, finished second in the First-Season Sires' table and McGee predicts a bright future for him. "This young Coolmore sire is standing the 2007 season in Japan but is clearly one of the most promising stallions in this cohort (of first-season sires)," she added. "With his race record, initial stud record and pedigree, it will be a disappointment if he does not become a Classic sire."