BEL DANORO

Bel Danoro is a group winning son of Danehill, who defeated Group One winners such as Apache Cat, El Segundo and Perfectly Ready on the track.  Out of a stakes winning grand-daughter of Mr. Prospector, Bel Danoro is bred on a similar cross to leading sire Flying Spur.

Bel Danoro owns a pedigree that is relatively free of the two domestic broodmare sire lines that have done particularly well with Danehill, Sir Tristram and Star Kingdom. Sir Tristram can be brought in through Zabeel and his son, Octagonal (and grandson Lonhro), Kaapstad, Sovereign Red, Military Plume, Marauding, Grosvernor and Dr. Grace.

Bel Danoro has a cross of Star Kingdom through Biscay, which will be in the fifth generation of his foals so using further strains here would be of interest. The duplication of Biscay is found in more than 60 stakes winners, including 20 by Danehill line stallions, and could be achieved here through Bletchingly – who does very well with Flying Spur – and his sons Canny Lad, Best Western and Star Watch, and grandsons Kingdom Bay and Hurricane Sky, and through Marscay. Other branches of Star Kingdom worth considering are Kaoru Star (through Luskin Star and his son Covetous), Nodouble (through Semipalatinsk), Zephyr Bay and Planet Kingdom.

Other frequently found Australian strains that have enjoyed success when crossed with Danehill and his sons are Crown Jester and Rory’s Jester; Century through Centaine and Rubiton; Zeditave; and Vain (notably through Clay Hero).

Danehill is a Northern Dancer line horse, but he and his sons have worked well when crossed over certain other branches of that line. These include Nijinsky II (through Caerleon, Royal Academy (his son Bel Esprit appeals as he is out of a Vain mare), Whiskey Road); Nureyev (with Fasliyev, looking particularly interesting); Try My Best and his son Last Tycoon; Sadler’s Wells and his sons (especially Scenic) and his brother, Fairy King (and thus mares by Encosta de Lago which appeals immensely here); Be My Guest (sire of Pentire), Bluebird and Dehere.

Bel Danoro is an example of the Danehill/Mr. Prospector cross, but could be bred back over mares descending from Mr. Prospector for success. This could be achieved through mares by stallions such as Thunder Gulch, Woodman (sire of Timber Country and Hector Protector), Miswaki (sire of Umatilla), Gone West (and his sons, Elusive Quality, Mr. Greeley and Zafonic), Seeking the Gold (via Secret Savings and Lujain), and Street Cry. Mares carrying a Mr. Prospector/Star Kingdom cross should do well with Bel Danoro

Additional broodmare sire lines that have done well under Danehill include Blushing Groom (mares by Quest for Fame, Fantastic Light and Noverre appeal) and Sharpen Up. It is also worth considering the Hail to Reason line through Halo (including via More Than Ready and sons of Sunday Silence) and Roberto, including through At Talaq (broodmare sire of a grade one winner by Flying Spur), Red Ransom (mares by his son Charge Forward particularly) and Brocco.

Alan Porter – Pedigree Consultants