Danehill retired to stud duties in 1990 at the
Coolmore Stud in Ireland and made his greatest impact as a
stallion. Sold by his owner under advice to the partnership of
Arrowfield Stud of
Scone, New South Wales, Australia, and Ireland's
Coolmore Stud, he came to Australia as a shuttle stallion in 1990. At the end of the stud season, he returned to Coolmore Stud in Ireland. He was an immediate sensation at stud in Australia, where he was
leading sire on many occasions. Danehill returned to Australia ten more times and also served one season at stud in Japan during 1996. With his appeal to European breeders, he became the first high-profile shuttle stallion, standing the
Northern Hemisphere covering season at Coolmore's Irish facility. Coolmore subsequently became his sole owner after a $24 million deal, making him the most valuable Thoroughbred in Australian breeding history. Danehill's success in the United Kingdom, Ireland and France was slow to develop as connections had convinced themselves the Danehills required wet tracks and light work. After winning 3 Golden Slippers in his first 3 crops in Australia the opposite was proven true and Ballydoyle who had the majority of the NH Danehills adjusted their training methods which yielded Aidan O'Brien's first G1 success when Desert King, from the 4th crop of Danehill, won the G1 National Stakes for 2yos at The Curragh in 1996 under Walter Swinburn. Danehill's highest rated racehorses were
Rock Of Gibraltar (
Sussex Stakes 2002),
George Washington (
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes 2006),
Dylan Thomas (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 2007 and
King George & Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2007),
Duke Of Marmalade (
Prince of Wales's Stakes 2008),
Mozart (
July Cup 2001) and
Westerner (
Ascot Gold Cup 2005). == Group 1 winners sired ==