Influential sire Danehill Dancer (Ire) was put down at Coolmore Stud in Ireland at the weekend due to the infirmities of old age.

The 24 year-old son of Danehill had been pensioned in 2013.  “Danehill Dancer was a wonderful sire,” Coolmore spokesman M V Magnier said.  “And he’s left a significant legacy through his sons Mastercraftsman and Choisir and grandson Starspangledbanner.”

Danehill Dancer (Danehill – Mira Adonde by Sharpen Up) was purchased by Demi O’Byrne for Ir38,000gns at the 1994 Goffs yearling sale.  He won the Phoenix Stakes and National Stakes, and finished second to Alhaarth in the Dewhurst Stakes at two.

He scored in the Greenham Stakes on his three-year-old debut but was unplaced in the English 2000 Guineas and French 2000 Guineas.  He returned to form later in the year when dropped back to sprinting with an honourable third to Anabaa in the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest.

Danehill Dancer made an immediate impact with his early runners and his first northern hemisphere crop contained Where Or When (Queen Elizabeth II Stakes).  His early results from shuttling to Australia included Choisir who took Royal Ascot by storm in the King’s Stand and Golden Jubilee Stakes.

He followed up with Mastercraftsman (Irish 2000 Guineas & St James’s Palace Stakes) and Again (Irish 1000 Guineas) in 2009 when he was crowned Champion sire in Britain and Ireland.

In all, Danehill Dancer has been represented by 21 Group 1 winners worldwide including top-class fillies Dancing Rain, Legatissimo, Speciosa, Qemah & Lillie Langtry.

He’s also an important sire of sires, with sons Air Chief Marshal, Choisir, Fast Company, Mastercraftsman and Monsieur Bond all having supplied Group 1 winners.

Danehill Dancer started his stud career off a basement fee of Ir4,000 gns.  It rose to €115,000 in 2007 and was listed as ‘private’ at the height of his popularity in 2009.

DANEHILL DANCER