Riverslea Farm has announced its Danehill stallion California Dane has died after post-colic surgery.  He was 11.

California Dane reached a pinnacle at stud when his Sydney based sprinter Rebel Dane won the G1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in September.  He retired to stud in 2007 and among his other 55 winners have been the Listed winners Fire Thunderbolt and Lake Sententia.

He began stud life at Baerami Thoroughbreds before transferring to Karen Irwin at Riverslea in the Hunter Valley.   “He’s tough and that’s a trademark of the progeny,” Irwin said after Rebel Dane won the Rupert Clarke.  “They all have a strong will-to-win that makes them such rewarding horses to own.”

California Dane was trained by Lee Freedman and proved one of Danehill’s fastest sons in Australia.  The winner of 6 races in 13 starts, he scored at Group 2 level in the Carlyon Stakes (1200m) and Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

Last advertised for a $6,600 (inc gst) fee in 2011, he had since been listed as FOA.