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Aussie Rules (USA)

Danehill - Last Second, by Alzao
Grey, foaled 2003
Breeder: Belgrave Bloodstock Ltd
Other sons of Danehill at stud: Cacique, Camacho, Catcher In The Rye, Chevalier, Clodovil, Colossus, Danbird, Danehill Dancer, Danroad, Dansili, Desert King, Dylan Thomas, Exceed And Excel, Ferrule, Gentleman's Deal, Hawkeye, Holy Roman Emperor, Indian Danehill, Ivan Denisovich, Kodiac, Leporello, Manipulator, Mountain High, Multiplex, Oratorio, Rock Of Gibraltar, Tiger Hill, Westerner, Where Or When.

Group One winning miler from successful distaff line

Sons of Danehill are now proliferating at stud in Europe, having already gained a massive foothold in the Southern Hemisphere in Australia and New Zealand, and the pedigree of Aussie Rules will guarantee that he has all the chances going to make it as a sire.

On the racecourse he gave no hint as a juvenile that he might prove higher than Group 3 standard when winning the Somerville Tattersall Stakes by the narrowest possible margin from Killybegs. His other three starts that year yielded a Curragh maiden and a second to Abigail Pett in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes on the same course, as well as fourth place in the Vintage Champagne Stakes at Goodwood, where the winner was none other than Derby hero Sir Percy.

But after a modest start at three, he promptly became a Classic winner in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, beating Marcus Andronicus and Stormy River, and his running that day suggested that he would do better still over a longer trip.

That proved misleading, because the distance clearly found him out in both the Prix du Jockey-Club and the Eclipse, where he was fourth to David Junior, but back at a mile again he ran well to finish fourth in both the Sussex Stakes (to Court Masterpiece) and the Prix du Moulin (to Librettist) before crossing the Atlantic to put up a fine performance and gain an easy Grade 1 victory at Keeneland.

Aussie Rules hails from a family developed incredibly successfully in recent years, principally by Kirsten Rausing and Sonia Rogers, from an Aga Khan cast off, Alruccaba, his grandam. A minor winner herself, Alruccaba has become ancestress of a host of top runners. Her daughters Last Second (Nassau, Sun Chariot and Park Stakes), Alleluia (Doncaster Cup), Alouette (Listed
winner) and the placed Jude have between them bred five Group winners, four of them, Albanova, Alborada, Yesterday and Quarter Moon, at the highest level.

Most of the outstanding performers recently have been female, so it will be interesting to see if Aussie Rules can carry the family tradition into new realms of achievement at stud.

Race record

At 2
2nd Round Tower Stakes, G3, 6f, Curragh

At 3
1st Poule d'Essai des Poulains, G1, 8f, Longchamp Race footage on Youtube
1st Shadwell Turf Mile, G1, 8f, Keeneland Race footage on Youtube
4th Eclipse Stakes, G1, 10f, Sandown
4th Sussex Stakes, G1, 8f, Goodwood
4th Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, G1, 8f, Longchamp

AUSSIE RULES (USA), 2003

Stud details

Stands Coolmore Ireland

Fee €15,000 October 1

Ad Valorem - Araafa - Aussie Rules - Balmont - Bandari - Blue Dakota - Boogie Street - Byron - Cacique - Calcutta - Darsi - Desideratum - Diamond Green - Elusive Double - Ferrule - Galeota - George Washington - Goodricke - Hurricane Run - Iceman - Iffraaj - Indesatchel - Ivan Denisovich - Kodiac - Let The Lion Roar - Librettist - Majestic Missile - Near Dock - Norse Dancer - Phoenix Reach - Polar Impact - Prince Arch - Proclamation - Reefscape - Resplendent Glory - Shirocco - Sleeping Indian - Silent Times - Striking Ambition - Wolf Tone