STALLION PROFILE - DANBIRD

Danbird is thoroughbred royalty.

He’s a son of a legendary sire of sires in Danehill, he’s from a stakeswinning 2YO in Fitting, he’s a full brother to Golden Slipper winner and successful sire Catbird, and he boasts a pedigree chock full of black typers.

Dare we say, a better family than the Windsors ... certainly quicker! Danehill needs little introduction with Catbird being just one of his five Golden Slipper winners, while mum Fitting won a Gimcrack and was twice Group placed at two before running fourth in the Slipper.

Danbird’s damsire, Marscay, won the 1982 Slipper while Fitting’s brother, Maizcay, won the Silver Slipper-G2 and her stakeswinning half sister, Donna Cara, is the dam of Donna Dior, a runnerup in the Black Opal-G3.

Fitting’s dam, the aptly named Corn (by Hotfoot) is a half sister to County, who won a Todman Slipper, and Beans (by Blazing Saddles), winner of the Black Opal and runnerup in the Riesling Slipper. Yet another of the half brothers in Dieu D’Or was an absolute flying machine and, during his time at stud, produced dual Group One winning sprinter Gold Ace.

As we all know, there is no tried and true formula to breeding winners, but Danbird certainly ticks all the boxes in the pedigree department.

But he was also a top notch racehorse. Selling for $1.1 million as a yearling, Danbird lived right up to his good looks, running a mighty long neck second behind subsequent Group One winner Regimental Gal in the $1 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (giving her two kilos and a headstart) before going on to win the Pago Pago Stakes-G2 in the Sydney autumn (an event also won by leading sires Rory’s Jester, Grosvenor and Zeditave).

Danbird would be multiple Group placed at three – including a terrific second to Exceed and Excel in the Up And Coming – before heading to New Zealand for further stakes placings and Group One fourth.

Contrary to many of the Danehill entires who blossom at two but aren’t sighted thereafter, Danbird had matured into a top class sprinter and in his first six runs as a 4YO, won four – including two black type events at Ellerslie – and ran two seconds, including the Lion Red-G3.

Retired to Eliza Park in 2005, Danbird has covered 349 mares in the four seasons hence: a figure which would have been substantially larger if not caught up in the EI drama two years ago, belatedly covering a reduced book after being confined to NSW as a result of shuttling from England.

With the seeming ability to throw progeny to type, it was hardly surprising to see buyers move quickly to snap up his first crop of yearlings at 2008 sales, paying up to $250,000 for the privilege (not bad off a then $8,800 service fee!).

One of the early disciples was leading trainer Robert Smerdon who had the honour of training the first Danbird winner in Royal Dalton, who also became his sire’s first black typer when the nifty 2YO ran third in the Anzac Stakes-LR at Flemington in April.

“Royal Dalton is typical of the breed,” Robert said after Royal Dalton’s stakes placing. “He’s a lovely type – very forward, but I really believe you will see the best of him at three and four.”

Western Raider has kept Royal Dalton company by sweeping all before him in winning the $100,000 Inglis Plate at Warrnambool on debut.

So, pedigree, physique, performance and now progeny. Where to from here?

Well, taking a line through his full brother, Catbird, the horizon looks promising and appears to be a future not pigeon holed with precocity.

Indeed, the ill-fated Catbird - who died almost two years ago - recently notched up his 14th individual stakeswinner and it’s a stud career marked by its diversity.

Five of the 14 were 2YO stakeswinners, but his best to date is Cats Fun, who won a WATC Derby (2400m) and Perth Cup (3200m)! Work that one out.

Danbird - courtesy of Royal Dalton and Western Raider - has shown he can produce speedy juveniles, but it’s also very likely his sons and daughters will race on over a distance.

And given that just 14.2% of races staged throughout Australia last season were dedicated to 2YOs, ‘versatility’ is a very handy attribute.

Also, give this some thought when you’re summing up your mating decisions this season: Danbird’s 2009 fee of $5,500 (with a live foal guarantee and extended payment terms to 31 March 2010), represents enormous value in today’s market.

You know he can throw outstanding types and his first runners are already leaving their mark.

Just how much will an athletic $5.5k Danbird be worth - in a market emerging from a slump - if he follows in his brother’s hoofsteps?

For further information, click here, or phone David Somers on 0428 440 330 or Mark Lindsay on 0416 334 338.