By Jack Werk
I’ve been saying for several years now that Danzig is the most influential sire line worldwide, because of Danehill’s influence in both Europe and Australia and Green Desert’s influence in Europe. Danehill, of course, has become the most dominant sire line in Australia since Sir Tristram. Lately, the Green Desert branch of Danzig has been on fire in Europe with Cape Cross (sire of one of the all-time greats Sea of Stars), Oasis Dream (having a dream season with 18 SWs and 3 G1 winners), and Invincible Spirit. Argentina is starting to appreciate Orpen (by Lure, by Danzig), who has an incredible 4 G1 winners worldwide in 2009, and Brazil has had Burooj, the sire of Hot Six, one of the best older horses there and the winner of the G1 Latinoamericana this year.
The extent of the Danehill/Green Desert influence in European racing is best illustrated by viewing the latest list of unrestricted SWs by European sires. FIVE of the 11 stallions (8 or more SWs) descend from these two Danzig branches. Danehill Dancer (Danehill) leads with 19, Oasis Dream (Green Desert) has 18, Dansili (Danehill) has 10 SWs, Cape Cross (Green Desert) has 9 SWs, and Invincible Spirit (Green Desert) has 8 SWs. Click here to see the complete list.
North America has always had some moderately successful sons of Danzig like Exchange Rate, Langfuhr and Polish Numbers, as well as a bunch of sons at the regional level from California to New York, but none that have really sizzled because the Danzigs are basically turf horses, and, in America, there is a much greater demand for dirt horses than turf horses. After all, a turf horse is not likely to get an owner or trainer on the Triple Crown trail.
I was again reminded of this today because War Chant, who stands at Three Chimneys and was bred and raced by WTC client Irv Cowan, had his biggest winner to date this year, and you guessed it – it was in Europe on the turf!
Kingsfort, a 2-year-old colt by War Chant, won the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh yesterday over a field jam packed with quality runners.
War Chant is a good stallion and a great value. Consider this: Currently, War Chant is tied for 6th place as North America’s leading sire of unrestricted SWs with 8, and tied for 4th place as leading sire of first-time unrestricted SWs with 7. The seven stallions ahead of him have an average stud fee of $135,714. War Chant’s stud fee? $15,000!
But, with 19 of War Chant’s 21 unrestricted SWs winning on the turf, demand for his progeny by U.S. buyers has been less than overwhelming. Considering the Danzig sireline’s success in Europe, there’s no telling how big a stallion he might be right now had he retired to stud in Europe. Well, one thing’s for sure. If the American buyers don’t warm up to his progeny, the European buyers will have a hay day picking up War Chants at bargain prices.
Well, this brings me to Danzig’s last best hope in the U.S. and a stallion I absolutely love- Hard Spun! He was different than most of the Danzigs because he relished the dirt. In fact, he NEVER ran on the turf. He was basically a miler with the heart to go a mile and a quarter and did so running 2nd in the Kentucky Derby to Street Sense and 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Classic to Curlin!
I believe Hard Spun will be for the Danzig line in North America what El Prado is for the Sadler’s Wells line in here – the “transitional” sire in a line of turf sires that adapts to dirt.
You heard it here first!
hard spun my favorite runner and i can’t wait till his kids get on the track
Jack,
Excellent post. I agree about the Danzig-Danehill line and I think HS will be very influential as a sire. Even though he liked the dirt, he was undefeated on polytrack (both wins were at 9 furlongs), where he displayed an ability to rate on or off the lead and a strong finishing kick. It think that came from his turf pedigree. Remember, based on his pedigree, Jones originally said he thought he better run HS’s maiden on turf at 1 mile. Then they turned him loose on dirt and he blew past Jones’s best grade 1 filly sprinters (like Wildcat Betty B) and the rest is history. I also think BB shows us a bit of what HS’s offspring may do. Boundary was a fast son of Danzig, who was a sprinter who never had a chance to win at routes due to bad knees. BB was a beast on turf and dirt. Remember that 12 length maiden romp on turf at 8.5 furlongs. And BB’ s Florida Derby and Ky Derby were record setting…
HS, as you know, was so sound and fit that his monthly vet bills were hundreds less than most other 3 year olds. Can you imagine a colt with BB’s talent and HS’s speed, heart and soundness? We just may get one.
Stuart, thanks for some great insight. I think you are spot on with your analysis. – Jack
Jack – you may well be on the right track and we Aussies are fortunate to have Hard Spun joining us on the shuttle. We have been enjoying the benefits of what I call the Danehill revolution for some time as he had an immediate impact here with his first crop.
Interestingly European breeders took a liitle longer to warm to the great horse but are now going to benefit from the recently retired champions from his last few European crops.
What I find most interesting though is the fact that he has been so overlooked by USA breeders and stud farms. Forget about his racecourse performance and his ability to sire turf runners. Instead look at his pedigree. By Danzig out of a His Majesty mare and inbred to the dam of Northern Dancer. Can you get any more Yankee Doodle Dandy than that?
The Danzig line has done well here too, but to give you an idea of the dominant influence Danehill exerts on our bloodlines, just consider that out of 273 stallions in the Australian section on our website stallions.com.au no less than 83 horses or 30.4% of the total are sons, grandsons, or great grandsons of Danehill.
Andrew Reichard
Publisher, stallions.com.au