Champion stallion Danehill is likely to never return to
Australia after it was confirmed by Coolmore Stud that the record breaking son of Danzig
is not shuttling for the 2002 season.
Industry insiders said the uncertainty over Danehill's stud
career in Australia had been rife for many months.
Coolmore announced that the super sire would be
"rested" for the 2002 Southern Hemisphere season, a period in which he is
usually standing at Coolmore's Hunter Valley property.
"We have decided to give Danehill a well earned
break," Coolmore's Australian Manager Michael Kirwan said.
"This season it would have been something like his
25th straight season," he added.
Kirwan failed to allay any fears that the champion sire may
never return to Australia by saying that he "may" return to Australia in a
year's time.
Danehill, who's on the brink of winning his sixth
Australian sires' premiership this season, is the sire of many Australian stars including
Danewin, Danzero, Flying Spur, Merlene, Catbird (all Golden Slipper winners), Dane Ripper,
Nothin' Leica Dane, Ha Ha, Danendri, Arena, Redoute's Choice, Viking Ruler, Camarena, Mr
Murphy, Magical Miss and Dashing Eagle.
In the north he is the sire of champions and Group One
winners including Mozart, Tiger Hill, Desert King, Aquarelliste, Banks Hill and Indian
Danehill.
Kirwan said that Coolmore had found an able replacement,
the recently retired champion galloper Giant's Causeway.
The best son of the American siring sensation Storm Cat,
Giant's Causeway was the first horse in Europe to win five consecutive Group One races the
mighty Nijinsky.
"We're pleased to announce that Giant's Causeway will
be serving his first book of mares at Coolmore this season," Kirwan said.
"His fee has been set at $125,000 plus GST," he
added. |
