Dancing Brave
Encyclopedia
Dancing Brave was a thoroughbred
racehorse, foaled in 1983, a bay colt sired by Lyphard
out of Navajo Princess. He was purchased as a yearling by Khalid Abdullah for US$200,000 in Kentucky
.
Trained in England by Guy Harwood
, after winning twice as a two-year-old, Dancing Brave opened his three-year-old campaign in 1986 with a victory in the Craven Stakes
- a 'Guineas Trial' at Newmarket, and followed it up by winning the 2,000 Guineas itself, beating Green Desert
by three lengths.
Next on the agenda was the Epsom Derby
, although there were concerns about whether he would see out the further distance of 1 mile 4 furlongs (2414 m). Close to last place entering the home straight, Dancing Brave made up a lot of ground, but Shahrastani
beat him by half a length.
His jockey, Greville Starkey
, was criticised for his tactics, but kept the ride for Dancing Brave's next race, a win in the Eclipse Stakes
at Sandown Park. However, when Starkey was unable to ride the horse in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes he was replaced by Pat Eddery
who became the preferred choice by the time of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
. Both of these races were also won.
The 1986 'Arc' was one of Dancing Brave's best performances, with a devastating late run winning by a length and a half in record time against a high class field, including his Derby conqueror Shahrastani
who finished in fourth place.
Dancing Brave's racing career ended on a disappointing note in the United States
, finishing fourth behind Manila
in the Breeders' Cup Turf
at Santa Anita Park
.
After being retired to stud at Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket, he sired numerous winners, having a particularly good crop of three-year-olds in 1993, including Commander in Chief
, who won the Epsom Derby
, and White Muzzle, second in both the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
. After five seasons standing at stud in Britain, Dancing Brave was sold to the Japan Racing Association
and brought to the Shizunai Stallion Station
at Hokkaidō
. He died on August 2, 1999 of a heart attack
.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse, foaled in 1983, a bay colt sired by Lyphard
Lyphard
Lyphard was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and an important sire. American bred in Pennsylvania, Lyphard was a son of Northern Dancer out of the mare Goofed. He was auctioned as a weanling at November's Keeneland Sales to Tim Rogers, a horseman from Ireland, who then put him up for sale at...
out of Navajo Princess. He was purchased as a yearling by Khalid Abdullah for US$200,000 in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Trained in England by Guy Harwood
Guy Harwood
Guy Harwood is a retired British racehorse trainer. Harwood was born in Pulborough, West Sussex, in 1939. Harwood began riding at the age of 18 and won 40 point-to-point races and 14 National Hunt races over the next few years...
, after winning twice as a two-year-old, Dancing Brave opened his three-year-old campaign in 1986 with a victory in the Craven Stakes
Craven Stakes
The Craven Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid April.The event serves as a trial for the first...
- a 'Guineas Trial' at Newmarket, and followed it up by winning the 2,000 Guineas itself, beating Green Desert
Green Desert (horse)
Green Desert is a retired British Thoroughbred racehorse and active sire.Currently standing at Shadwell Stud, Green Desert is the sire of four Champion Sprinters and seventy-two individual Stakes winners...
by three lengths.
Next on the agenda was the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, although there were concerns about whether he would see out the further distance of 1 mile 4 furlongs (2414 m). Close to last place entering the home straight, Dancing Brave made up a lot of ground, but Shahrastani
Shahrastani
Shahrastani is a European Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned and bred by HH Aga Khan IV, he was sired by Nijinsky and out of the mare Shademah....
beat him by half a length.
His jockey, Greville Starkey
Greville Starkey
Greville Starkey was an English jockey who rode almost 2,000 winners during a 33-year career on the flat.Starkey scaled the heights of his profession during his 33-year career in which he rode 1,989 winners on the Flat...
, was criticised for his tactics, but kept the ride for Dancing Brave's next race, a win in the Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
at Sandown Park. However, when Starkey was unable to ride the horse in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes he was replaced by Pat Eddery
Pat Eddery
Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...
who became the preferred choice by the time of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
. Both of these races were also won.
The 1986 'Arc' was one of Dancing Brave's best performances, with a devastating late run winning by a length and a half in record time against a high class field, including his Derby conqueror Shahrastani
Shahrastani
Shahrastani is a European Thoroughbred racehorse. Owned and bred by HH Aga Khan IV, he was sired by Nijinsky and out of the mare Shademah....
who finished in fourth place.
Dancing Brave's racing career ended on a disappointing note in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, finishing fourth behind Manila
Manila (horse)
Manila is an American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame Champion racehorse. He was sired by Northern Dancer's son Lyphard, out of the mare Dona Ysidra. He was bred by Filipino food and beverage magnate Eduardo Cojuangco, Jr...
in the Breeders' Cup Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf
The Breeders' Cup Turf is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The race's current title sponsor is Emirates Airlines.The forerunner...
at Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park
Santa Anita Park is a thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent racing events in the United States during the winter and in spring. With its backdrop of the purple San Gabriel Mountains, it is considered by many as the world's most beautiful race...
.
After being retired to stud at Dalham Hall Stud, Newmarket, he sired numerous winners, having a particularly good crop of three-year-olds in 1993, including Commander in Chief
Commander in Chief (horse)
Commander in Chief was a British thoroughbred racehorse, foaled in 1990 by Dancing Brave out of Slightly Dangerous. His damsire was the 1972 Epsom Derby winner Roberto, and his grandsire was Lyphard, a son of Northern Dancer....
, who won the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, and White Muzzle, second in both the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
. After five seasons standing at stud in Britain, Dancing Brave was sold to the Japan Racing Association
Japan Racing Association
The Japan Racing Association is a public company established to operate Chūō Keiba and to manage racecourses, betting facilities, and horse-training facilities....
and brought to the Shizunai Stallion Station
Shizunai Stallion Station
Shizunai Stallion Station is a Japanese Thoroughbred horse farm was opened in 1963 and is located on the island of Hokkaidō. Operated by the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association , it is located in Shizunai whose sister city is Lexington, Kentucky...
at Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. He died on August 2, 1999 of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.