Dane Shadow will stand his fourth season at Kitchwin Hills in the Hunter Valley for a fee of $16,500 (inc gst).  A Group-winning son of champion sire Danehill, he is from Group 1 winning Centaine mare Slight Chance.

Dane Shadow is off to an exciting start at stud with four winners headed by Shadow Miss, a brilliant Rosehill winner who then ran without luck in the G3 Sweet Embrace Stakes and G2 Magic Night Stakes.

Dane Shadow is also the sire of talented youngster Shadow Assassin, a debut win at Rosehill on Boxing Day.  The Gai Waterhouse trained youngster then ran a slashing fourth behind Golden Slipper winner Phelan Ready in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast in January.

Last week, the promising Chris Waller trained Shellscrape led throughout to win at Canterbury (1300m) lumping 57.5kg after being placed in his previous four starts in town.

Waller has three Dane Shadow youngsters in his stable.  “They are athletic individuals who handle a heavy workload as 2YOs,” Waller said.

Dane Shadow’s other winner Hewentwhoosh is the leading money earner for the $100,000 Inglis Challenge (1300m) at Scone on May 15.

Dane Shadow was a Golden Slipper contender at two – he was narrowly beaten twice at G2 level by stars Fastnet Rock and Charge Forward – who trained on to beat the Golden Slipper winner Dance Hero when second behind Fastnet Rock in the G2 Up And Coming Stakes (1200m) at three, and then followed up by winning the G3 Ming Dynasty Stakes (1400m).

Kitchwin Hills manager Mick Malone said Dane Shadow has impressed all who have seen his stock.

“He has had to prove himself and has done it the hard way.  There has been growing interest in this horse since his first yearlings went through the ring in 2008, and he wouldn’t be the first successful son of Danehill to build his own reputation.

“Everyone was impressed by them, and they sold accordingly.  The expectations were high when his 2YOs started racing, and we haven’t been let down.  He’s a hot sire and in 2009 his yearlings have sold for nearly eight times his advertised service fee.

“With the dramatic increase in quality of mares he covered last season and what we know and expect he will cover this season, the best is yet to come,” Malone said.

“Kitchwin understands as well as anyone the importance of return on investment for breeders in creating a long term success story and hence he will cover a limited book.

“We have great faith in this horse. H e will cover a wonderful book of mares this spring.  Already, those associated with the horse have earmarked some clearly outstanding mares.”