Young Danehill Guns Boost Coolmore Roster
24th May 2007
Global breeding giant Coolmore will follow up on the success of their former champion sire Danehill in launching three new stallions this spring, all of them sons of the horse who dominates racing in this part of the world, despite his death in 2003.Danehill and his various sire sons account for nine of the top 20 stallions in Australia this season by earnings, while his first crop son Rock of Gibraltar has produced an amazing five individual stakes-winners in his debut Australian season – Murtajill, Sliding Cube, Gibraltar Campion, Superfly and I Have No Fear.
His grand-son Choisir, a son of Danehill Dancer , leads the first season sires by earnings, his winners including a pair of stakes-winners in Incumbent and Hurried Choice.
Given the track record of Danehill sons at stud it only makes sense to pursue every new avenue and in Holy Roman Emperor , Aussie Rules and Ivan Denisovich breeders have three outstanding prospects to consider, priced to appeal to all budgets.
A blueblood of the highest order, Holy Roman Emperor is a dual Group One winning juvenile from a renowned sire producing family, whose three-quarter brother by Rock of Gibraltar from L’On Vite made $3million at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“At $44,000, Holy Roman Emperor is a foolproof commercial option with so many obvious positives, plus that familiar pedigree. Aussie breeders are already well on their way to filling his debut book with quality mares,” said James Harron of Coolmore.
Grey in colour, just like the outstanding Danehill sire Lion Hunter (sadly deceased), Aussie Rules is a dual Group One winner at a mile in the French 2,000 Guineas and Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in America, having kick-started his career with a Group Three success as a juvenile.
An eye-catching individual with a great turn of foot, Aussie Rules was seen at his electric best in the French 2,000 Guineas, zooming home with a sizzling finish along the inside running rail, after being cramped for galloping room for much of the straight.
"Aussie rules is not a horse he is a machine… they just don’t change gears like that," declared winning jockey Keiran Fallon.
Aussie Rules has the looks, the ability and also the pedigree as he is from Group Two winning Alzao mare Last Second, whose half-sisters have produced Group One winners Alborada, Albanova, Yesterday and Quarter Moon.
“Aussie Rules is priced within a competitive bracket of freshman sires at $22,000, but he looks a great choice in terms of value for money when you take a good look at his credentials in comparison to others,” enthused Harron.
A bargain priced alternative on the Coolmore roster at just $11,000, Ivan Denisovich has much to recommend him as a Group Two winning juvenile, who raced in the best of company at three, gaining several Group One placings as well as a Listed success at a mile.
A typically attractive bay son of Danehill, Ivan Denisovich comes with an A Grade pedigree being a three-quarter brother to Group One Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and successful sire War Chant from an exceptional racemare in Hollywood Wildcat.
A dual Group One winner of 12 races, Hollywood Wildcat is by the Roberto horse Kris S from a daughter of Mr Prospector, both sirelines that have met with considerable success in Australia.
“Ivan lacks the Group One win they need to command a big fee, but on pedigree and looks he’s right there with the others and for breeders with a limited budget he’s an affordable punt,” explained Harron.
For the breeder keen to stick with Danzig blood but maybe not a son of Danehill there is also the modestly priced Antonius Pius, who returns to Australia for his third consecutive season at a fee of $8,800.
A Group One placed son of Danzig from the Group One Yorkshire Oaks winner Catchascatchcan, there is no doubt that if Antonius Pius had won a Group One of his own, instead of finishing a half length second, his initial fee would have been set significantly higher.
Selected and purchased by respected bloodstock agent Demi O’Byrne for $US1.5 million at the 2002 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Antonius Pius is true to type being a muscular dark bay with all the renowned athleticism of the Danzig breed.
Given the depth of stallion talent available to Coolmore, it speaks volumes for the respect in which Antonius Pius is held, that he is being given such an opportunity to succeed and judging by his first foals, that faith may well be rewarded.
“Supporting a third season can require a leap of faith, but this horse has thrown some outstanding weanlings here and in the Northern Hemisphere, so based on that alone he is worth a gamble at the fee,” added Harron.