Dansili (GB) (Danehill–Hasili {Ire}, by Kahyasi {Ire}), among the leading sires in European history, has been pensioned at Juddmonte's Banstead Manor Stud at age 22 due to declining fertility.
Bred by Juddmonte owner Khalid Abdullah, Dansili was the first foal out of Hasili who, after him, would go on to produce five consecutive Group 1 winners (Hasili died last month at Banstead Manor aged 27). Dansili was no slouch on the racetrack himself. A Group 3 winner and three times Group 1-placed at three, he added two more group races at four for Andre Fabre and was Group 1-placed on three further occasions, including a neck third in his final start in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.
Dansili has, to date, sired 20 Group 1 winners of 35 Group 1 races, and the winners of over 275 stakes races. His standouts include G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. winner Harbinger (GB), the world's highest-rated horse in 2010; four-time Group 1-winning mare The Fugue (GB); and U.S. champion turf horse Flintshire (GB). Also among his ranks are the four-time Group 1 winner Proviso (GB); triple Australian Group 1 winner Foreteller (GB), G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Rail Link (GB), G1 1000 Guineas winner Miss France (GB) and Breeders' Cup-winning fillies Dank (GB) and Queens Trust (GB).
He looks likely to leave a long legacy as both a sire of sires and as a broodmare sire; his sire sons include the very useful Bated Breath (GB) and Zoffany (Ire) in Europe. In Japan, Harbinger (GB) is shaping up as an important young sire with three Group 1 winners and Flintshire is receiving support from major breeders in America. Standouts foaled by Dansili's daughters include Classic winner Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Group 2 winner Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who entered stud this year.
“With the support of loyal breeders, Dansili rose from modest beginnings to become one of Europe's leading sires,” said Banstead Manor Stud Director Simon Mockridge. “He has established himself as an incredibly consistent sire of high-class performers. His influence will be felt at Juddmonte for many years to come through his daughters in the broodmare band and via his exciting son Bated Breath, whose career has closely echoed that of his sire to date. Dansili will now enjoy a well-deserved retirement at Banstead Manor Stud.”
Dansili's younger full-brother Cacique, a successful sire who was plagued by fertility issues, is also pensioned at Banstead Manor.
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