A unique chapter in Australian thoroughbred industry history was brought to a close on Wednesday, December 16 when five-time Group 1 winner and proven Group 1 sire Danewin was humanely euthanized at Emirates Park, Murrurundi — his home for close on 25 years.
A member of Danehill’s very first foal crop of 1991 (which also included the Golden Slipper winner Danzero and Stradbroke winner Dansinga), Danewin proved to be every bit as good as any son of the incomparable stallion on the racetrack and, arguably, might have been one of the most influential members of his predominant maleline if not for well-documented fertility issues.
Yet, despite a 17-year stud career which yielded fewer than 500 lifetime foals, the Emirates Park resident still managed to leave his mark on the domestic breeding scene in very many ways.
A Fernhill Handicap winning 2-year-old, Danewin proceeded to establish himself as an outstanding 3-year-old and older horse, winning five major Group 1 events, and all at his optimum distance of 2000 metres.
Danewin’s 31 start career also witnessed a further five seconds at Group 1 level — two in the VRC Derby and AJC Derby — and a race record breaking success in the Frederick Clissold Handicap at Rosehill Gardens over 1200m that further illustrated his redoubtable versatility.
Secured by Emirates Park to commence his stud career in 1996, Danewin managed to sire 25 individual stakes winners despite his average crop amounting to little more than 27-to-28 live foals per season.
Pride of place amongst his progeny is undoubtedly multiple Group 1 winner Theseo, who ultimately emulated his sire by also recording five wins at the highest level. Other headline offspring included the AJC Sires’ (G1) winner Excites, Queensland 3YO Classic (G1) winners Toulouse Lautrec and Vitesse Dane, and the Sydney Cup (G1) stalwart County Tyrone.
Not to be overlooked either, should be the deeds of Elegant Fashion, a dual Group 2 winning filly in Australia that was later to make history as an ultra-rare member of the fairer sex to claim the prestigious Hong Kong Derby.
In total, Danewin sired 281 winners from 385 starters, for progeny earnings of over $51 million. His daughters have also produced a further 260 individual winners of more than $27 million, the most significant being the triple Group 1 winner Fawkner.
In releasing the news, Emirates Park general manager Bryan Carlson paid tribute to a horse which proved a cornerstone of the stud’s early success and has been omnipresent on the farm for quarter of a Century.
“Needless to say, it was a very sad day at Emirates Park yesterday as Danewin has been with most of us since we joined the Team, and in most cases was a mainstay of the stud for many years beforehand,” said Carlson.
“Danewin was essentially the first commercial stallion the Boss [His Excellency Nasser Lootah] installed at our Murrurundi headquarters and the numbers suggest that he would have been an exceptional stallion if afforded the same fertility so many other elite sons of Danehill enjoyed.”
Carlson concluded: “Even with his issues, and thanks to the outstanding management he received once they were recognised, Danewin served Emirates Park with distinction and for that we are all truly indebted.”
In 2014, on a trip to the Hunter Valley touring the studs, my children and I were lucky enough to meet Danewin on a day when his trainer Bob Thomsen had come to visit and it was a memorable experience for us all.
News from Emirates Park
