Coolmore Stud has retired its champion stallion Danehill Dancer.  He hasn’t shuttled to Australia since 2009.

The 21-year-old son of Danehill has suffered from declining fertility in recent years and failed to get any mares in foal in Ireland earlier this year.

Danehill Dancer was a 2YO Group 1 winner of the 1995 Phoenix Stakes and National Stakes in Ireland for trainer Neville Callaghan.

Initially retired to Coolmore as an inexpensive source of speed, he surpassed expectations by developing into a top-class sire.  Among his 17 Group 1 winners have been dual-hemisphere sprinter Choisir and European classic winners Dancing Rain, Mastercraftsman & Again.

His elite winners in Australia include Light Fantastic and the multiple Group 1 winning sprinters Atomic Force and Private Steer

Mastercraftsman’s victories in the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes helped his sire to become European Champion in 2009.