Baerami Secures California Dane

23 April 2007

Danehill’s brilliant son, the 4 year old CALIFORNIA DANE, has been purchased for stud duties by Paul Higgins of Baerami Thoroughbreds and will retire immediately in preparation for the 2007 season.

California Dane burst on to the racing season last season with a string of 5 successive wins including a track record at Moonee Valley and a stunning victory in the Group 2 WFA Carlyon Stakes over 1200m in which he defeated the flying Virage De Fortune and Spark Of Life. He came back this season to capture the Group 2 WFA Moir Stakes over 1000m. The form that surrounded California Dane was always of the highest quality with Virage De Fortune being a case in point. She went into the Carlyon Stakes with winning form in the Group 2 Moir Stakes, ran second after California Dane broke 1-10 for the Moonee Valley 1200m, then she won the Group 1 Australia Stakes in a tick over 1-10 for the same track, conditions and distance at her next start. It then took Snitzel to beat her at her following start in the Oakleigh Plate. In fact, the only races that Virage de Fortune has been defeated in at Moonee Valley have been won by California Dane or Miss Andretti.

“I don’t think there has been a faster son of Danehill which was for us is his most attractive feature” said Paul Higgins. “He was for a time nearly unbeateable at 1200m. His first foray at Stakes level saw him start odds-on against some of the best sprinters in this country and triumph. Strangely, very few sons of Danehill have tasted success at WFA as three year olds - in fact Redoute’s Choice and California Dane are the only two to have done it at 1200m. You can add to this California Dane and Fastnet Rock being the only two Danehill sons to have won WFA races at 1000m. Class and precocity when coupled with pedigree and conformation should equal stud success.” Higgins said.

Indeed virtually every son of Danehill with such excellent credentials has succeeded at stud and they are always very well received in the sale ring. The success of the stakes placed Untouchable this year emphasises this point. Interestingly Danehill’s most successful sons at stud are locally bred and raced but from superb imported families – Redoute’s Choice (Gr1), Commands (Gr 3 winner), Lion Hunter (Stakes placed) and Flying Spur (Gr1).

California Dane is the first foal of the superbly bred Seattle Slew mare Storminwinter. She is from the immediate family of Champion US Sires Broad Brush and Capote. This is one of Americas tap root families, choc full of quality Black Type./

California Dane will stand for the great value fee of $11,000 inc GST, and some shares will be sold to breeders.