RACING: Coolmore Stud's top international stallion Danehill has been killed in a freak accident. The sire of Rock Of Gibraltar was being hand-grazed in a paddock at the Co Tipperary farm when the accident occurred.
The 17-year-old horse displaced Sadlers Wells as the leading sire of pattern winners last season with 13 winners of 24 races.
Rock Of Gibraltar was the star of that crop but just last Sunday two sons of Danehill, Clodovil and Catcher In The Rye, fought out the finish of the French 2,000 Guineas. He also sired the 1997 Irish Derby hero Desert King.
Danehill's stud career originally took off in Australia where he became a phenomenon due to Coolmore's shuttle policy.
During his own racing career, Danehill ran third to Nashwan in the 1989 2,000 Guineas and won the Group One Haydock Sprint Cup.
