Where do you want your Danehill....
- Trevor Donaldson
- May 20
- 11 min read
This is a detailed summary of where Danehill nicks in your racehorse's pedigree.
It is factual and up to date information as of 18th May, 2025
It is not mating plans, obviously so much more is assessed on planning your foal:
Returning to the stallion, the best blood of his own dam
Sex Balancing major ancestors in your broodmare to the stallion
Fous on the engine room - generations 4-5-6
Creating a pedigree pattern where you cannot sex balance any ancestors.
Everyone seems to know the best success comes from Sex Balancing Danehill via a son in one half and a daughter in the other half or vice-versa..... is it really that simple ?
You will see that certain positions in the pedigree are not favourable or producing the best results by simply applying a sex balance anywhere in your planned racehorse.
What about the known "no-no's" of the pedigree plan... you will see that crossing a daughter in one half to a daughter in the other half [so two daughters of Danehill], is also the least affective. With the exception exception being when both daughters are in the bottom halves of the Stallion and the Broodmare .
What about two sons - every says to avoid that if possible however I will demonstrate in the following images that you can successfully breed via two sons [one in each half of the pedigree].
The proviso here is do not have a continually line of males [such as both sons are present through their own sons [or Danehill's grandsons] in the pedigree.
The lineage to avoid of 3 males looks like this: M [danehill] MM x M [danehill] MM
So here are the best 2 way in using two sons ?
Option 1:
Sire Side: Danehill x Male x Male
Dam Side: Danehill x Male x Female
A grandson in the top half of the stallion
x
A granddaughter in the bottom half of the mare
Option 2:
Sire Side: Danehill x Male x Female
Dam Side: Danehill x Male x Male
A granddaughter in the bottom half of the stallion
x
A grandson in the top half of the mare
So let's get started with the difficult task of lining up through two sons
[one on each side of the pedigree].
Danehill - Male - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Male - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the son of this result.
Bottom half: broodmare is a daughter of this position.
This is one of the best ways to reproduce through two sons, it has good volume of 666 runners with WTR sitting at a strong 56% whilst producing 16 group winners and 42 stakes placed horses.
Great performers with this pattern include:
Stay Inside [new stallion], Puchkine [new stallion in Europe], Griff [new stallion], Devil Night [will be a future stallion] and outstanding runners Hinged, Media Award, Libertad etc
Danehill - Male - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Male - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the son of this result.
Bottom half: broodmare is the result
Only 2 group winners, sired by Proisir [NZ] Starspangledbanner [Au-Eur], it has large volume of 962 runners with WTR sitting at a strong 58% whilst producing lesser 12 group winners and 51 stakes placed horses.
Danehill - Male - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Male - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the result.
Bottom half: broodmare is a daughter of this position.
So many G1 winners are a result from this pattern through two sons, it has the second highest volume of 1468 runners with WTR sitting at a strong 57% whilst producing 19 group winners and 91 stakes placed horses.
Great performers with this pattern include:
New stallions - Farnan, Sword of State & Stronger, plus outstanding runners Lady Shenandoah & Vibrant Sun.
Danehill - Male - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Male - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the result.
Bottom half: broodmare is the result.
More G1 winners are a result from this pattern through two sons, it is the highest volume with 2977 runners and WTR being 54% whilst producing 25 group winners and 105 stakes placed horses.
Great performers with this pattern include:
stallions include The Mission, Beckford [Eur] and new stallion Lofty Strike, whilst outstanding very good runners include Beat The Clock [HK], Danzdanzdance & Prompt Response
Danehill - Male - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Male - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the result, "through the paternal half of his pedigree"
Bottom half: broodmare is the daughter of this result.
A great variation coming in through the bottom half of the stallion and has good volume with 969 runners and the WTR sitting at a strong 57% whilst producing 16 group winners and 69 stakes placed horses.
Great performers with this pattern include:
Stallions: Schwarz [new], Sejardan [new], Growing Empire [new] and good performers Mizzy, Skybird & Cifrado.
Method/Pattern to avoid or "carefully consider" through 2 sons ???
Danehill - Male - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Male - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the son of this result.
Bottom half: broodmare is the daughter of this result.
Only produced 15 "stakes winners" [the first so far under 20 stakes winners] and has good volume with 525 runners and the WTR sitting at 52% whilst producing 10 group winners and only 24 stakes placed horses.
performers with this pattern include:
She's Extreme [was exceptional and a G1 winner], plus Invincible Sage [HK].
Method/Pattern to "carefully consider" through 2 sons ???
Danehill - Male - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Male - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the result.
Bottom half: broodmare is the daughter of this result.
Lowest quality of group winners through the result of two sons and has really high volume with 1310 runners and the WTR sitting at the worst being 49% whilst producing 10 group winners and only 46 stakes placed horses at low percentages.
performers with this pattern include:
La Pelosa [G1 winner of Natalma Stks], plus good WA performers West Star, Own the Queen & Snowdome.
The Magic Potion ??? - Sex Balancing Danehill
Here are the best or most successful patterns to Sex Balance Danehill.
Danehill - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a daughter of this result
Bottom half: broodmare is the result .
Outstanding results from only 327 runners with the strongest WTR of every nick at 63% whilst producing 12 group winners and 31 stakes placed horses.
Great performers with this pattern include:
Group 1 winners Sunlight and Feroce plus new stallions Aft Cabin, Ringerdingding and many really good horses including Clean Energy, Sisstar and Stay Focused
Danehill - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a daughter of this result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a daughter of this result .
Only 159 runners where Danehill sits back in the 4th generation with this pattern and WTR sits at 54% whilst producing 4 group winners and 15 stakes placed horses.
More runners will come along with each year and this will prove to be one of the best patterns for sex balancing Danehill in the future.
Great performers with this pattern include:
Outstanding NZ mare Molly Bloom along with new stallion Lightsaber [the positioning of this nick will serve him well as a stallion], plus Group winner and multiple group placed Crypto Force [uk]
Danehill - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a son of this result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a daughter of this result
Not many runners yet, just ticking above 200 with 218 actual runners and a strong WTR at 62% whilst producing 5 group winners and 10 stakes placed horses.
Great performers with this pattern include:
Outstanding NZ bred Wellington [Star in HK] is easily the highest credentialled from this bunch whilst the group placed new stallion Don Corleone is on the list.
Danehill - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a son of this result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a daughter of this result
The smallest sample size of all nicks, where Danehill sits back in the 4th generation with this pattern and WTR sits at a strong 61% whilst producing 4 group winners and 10 stakes placed horses.
More runners will come along with each year and this will prove to be one of the best patterns for sex balancing Danehill in the future.
Great performers with this pattern include:
G1 NZ gelding Waitak along with promising mare Coeur Volante
Danehill - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a daughter of this result
Growing number of 367 runners with WTR at 55% whilst producing 14 group winners and 33 stakes placed horses.
Great performers with this pattern include:
Outstanding fillies Fireburn and Seabrook plus nice runners Givemethebeatboys [Ire] and new/recent stallions Doull and Dracarys.
Danehill - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the result
Bottom half: broodmare is the result
Always a concern when nicks are up close at 3x3, although surprisingly this nick has 846 runners with WTR at 59% whilst producing 11 group winners and 49 stakes placed horses.
Next set in the "top half" of your broodmare through a daughter.
This is a less successful pattern
Danehill - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a daughter of the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a son of the result
Only 217 runners and one of the lower ratios of WTR at 50% whilst producing 4 group winners and 15 stakes placed horses.
One of the lessor ways to sex balance and on the verge of your consideration
Performers with this pattern include:
Thousand guineas winner in UK - Cachet, plus very good horses Keshi Boom and Prince of Boom,
Danehill - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a son of the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a son of the result
One of the lowest sets, only 157 runners and one of the lower ratios of WTR at 50% whilst producing just 4 group winners and 15 stakes placed horses.
One of the lessor ways to sex balance and on the verge of your consideration
Danehill - Male [top half]
x
Danehill - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a son of the result
One of the lessor ways to sex balance and on the verge of your consideration.
If you have Danehill through a daughter in the top half of the stallion, its most successful sex balancing into male in the "top half" of your broodmare through a son.
Danehill - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a daughter of the result
Bottom half: broodmare is the result
Outstanding results with 560 runners at the very strong WTR of 61% whilst producing 17 group winners and 63 stakes placed horses.
This is one of the strongest ways to Sex Balance Danehill
Great performers with this pattern include:Some of the best Interantional horses - Bluestocking, Los Angeles and Luxembourg, plus local horses Captivant & Reserve Bank.
Danehill - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a daughter of the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a son of the result
Only 227 runners with this tight pattern and WTR sits at 55% whilst producing 7 group winners and 22 stakes placed horses.
Great performers with this pattern include:
Outstanding European mare Wonderment, plus local miler Encap and fast sprinters Sebonack & Cannonball are on the list.
Danehill - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the result
Bottom half: broodmare is is the result
Even though the nick is at 3x3, it shows great results through this tightly tucked nick having a huge 1531 runners at WTR sits at 53% whilst producing 24 group winners and 102 stakes placed horses.
Great performers with this pattern include:
Champion Australian mares Verry Elleegant and Alizee head the list with other outstanding runners Overpass & Miss Fabulass are prominent.
Danehill - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a son of the result
Not the most successful in measuring group winners, with 463 at WTR of 51% whilst producing 4 group winners and 19 stakes placed horses.
Danehill - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is a son of the result
Bottom half: broodmare is the result
Not the most successful in measuring group winners, with 251 runners at WTR of only 47% whilst producing 3 group winners and 15 stakes placed horses.
Danehill - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is a son of the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a son of the result
One of the worst results from only 122 runners at WTR of a poor 41% whilst producing 0group winners and just 3 stakes placed horses.
Danehill - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a daughter of the result
A proven pattern with a good strike rate of stakes winners, both nicks come in through the bottom halves of the stallion and dam with only 375 runners at 54% WTR whilst producing 8 group winners and 25 stakes placed horses.
Great performers with this pattern include:
Champion Australian mare Amelia's Jewell is the best performed on this list
Danehill - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Male [bottom half]
It is less effective when Danehill's daughter is in the top half of the stallion [so far, knowing that Frankel's future stallion sons will be in this position]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a son of the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a daughter of the result
Not enough data with only 91 runners at 39% WTR whilst producing 1 group winner and 2 stakes placed horses.
Interesting note, this top half will be the same slot where Frankel's stallion sons appear.......
Danehill - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Male [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a daughter of the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a daughter of the result
If you refer to the opening comments..... the top half of the pedigree is in the sweet spot, however if you are sex balancing to a male through the broodmare - you want him in the mare's top half.... not the bottom half.
148 runners at 56% WTR whilst producing 2 group winners and 14 stakes placed horses.
The least suggested and most unsuccessful [black type results] is to have
Danehill present on each side through 2 daughters "only"
The only exception with some success is when both daughters appear in the bottom halves of both the stallion and the broodmare - you can see them as the final 2 images below and include Lazzago and Yellow Sam.
Danehill - Female [top half]
x
Danehill - Female [bottom half]
Position summary:
Top half: Stallion is through a daughter of the result
Bottom half: broodmare is through a daughter of the result
32 runners at 56% WTR whilst producing 0 group winners and 0 stakes placed horses.
30 runners at 33% WTR whilst producing 0 group winners and 1 stakes placed horse.
31 runners at 58% WTR whilst producing 0 group winners and 1 stakes placed horse.
66 runners at 61% WTR whilst producing 2 group winners and 6 stakes placed horses.
29 runners at 65% WTR whilst producing 1 group winners and 3 stakes placed horses.
Final observation on Danehill's own pedigree.....
Most modern pedigree's have 10+ lines of Pharos [nick 19 from origin] in their 16 stallion lines [of a 5 gen pedigree], these are generally dominated [in nick 21] by Nearctic, Nasrullah and Royal Charger.
Danehill is so prominent in modern pedigrees, yet you may be surprised to see that he only had 2 lines x Pharos and his variation was immense as a stallion including:
2 x Sickle [Mr Prospector's lineage], 1 x Pharamond [Lunchtime/Snippets lineage], 1 x Fairway [Vain's lineage], 3 x Hyperion [Star Kingdom's lineage], 1 x Tenerani, 1 x Teddy, 1 x War Admiral, 2 x Blandford/Mahmoud, 1 x Spion Kop, 1 x Beau Pere.
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