When California Dane grabbed the Group 2 Carlyon Stakes

27 June 2007

STALLIONS continues a series of profiles on horses beginning stud duties this spring.

Among them is the very fast, California Dane.

When California Dane grabbed the Group 2 Carlyon Stakes (registered name: Stanley Wootton) at Moonee Valley last year on January 25th he displayed courage and speed breaking 1:10 for the second consecutive time over the 1200m journey. It was a truly outstanding performance to claim his first black-type victory at only his sixth race start and although he only had slim margin between him and the flying Virage de Fortune, she was after all a group one winner.

On that day California Dane defeated four other group one winners, Casual Pass, Bomber Bill, Spark Of Life and Valedictum - he certainly showed all the hallmarks of a class racehorse.

At his previous start at Moonee Valley, California Dane set a blistering course-record of 1:09.67 for the 1200m, defeating subsequent Millions Magic Millions Three-Year-Old Trophy winner Tereschenko.

California Dane was a hot-stallion prospect, with 13 wins and six placings recorded during his 13-start career, and Paul Higgins from Baerami Thoroughbreds moved swiftly to purchase him for stud duties earlier this year.

"I don't think there has been a faster son of Danehill, which, was for us is his most attractive feature" Higgins said.

"He was for a time nearly unbeatable 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 weight-for-age 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 weight-for-age races at 1000m. Class and precocity when coupled with pedigree and conformation should equal stud success." Higgins said.

California Dane is by the prince of sires Danehill, himself a son of the world-renowned Danzig. Danehill won four of six starts in England and retired at the end of his classic season with a Timeform rating of 126 and the distinction of being Europe's champion three-year-old of 1989.

Danehill excelled at stud becoming the first stallion to simultaneously lead the sires' championship in both hemispheres. To date he is credited with 80 Group I winners and more than 330 stakes winners. Danehill was the champion sire in Australia a record eight times and now boasts total progeny earnings of $343.1million world-wide.

California Dane is out of a superb American family, being the first foal out of the winning Seattle Slew mare Storminwinter, a half-sister to the Group 2 winning miler Williamstown and from the immediate family of multiple Group 1 winner Broad Brush and Group 2 winner Mull Of Kintyre.

California Dane joins Danasinga, Murphy's Blu Boy, Star Cross and Universal Prince at Baerami Thoroughbreds and his fee this spring is $11,000 (inc GST).

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