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Dancing Brave
SireLyphard
GrandsireNorthern Dancer
DamNavajo Princess
DamsireDrone
SexStallion
Foaled11 May 1983
Died2 August 1999 (aged 16)
CountryUnited States
ColourBay
BreederGlen Oak Farm
OwnerKhalid Abdullah
TrainerGuy Harwood
Record10: 8-1-0
Earnings$1,776,723
Major wins
Craven Stakes (1986)
2000 Guineas (1986)
Eclipse Stakes (1986)
K. George VI & Q. Elizabeth Stakes (1986)
Select Stakes (1986)
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1986)
Awards
Top-rated European horse (International Classification) (1986)
Top-rated European horse (Timeform) (1986)
British Horse of the Year (1986)
Timeform rating: 140[1]
Honours
British Champions Series Hall of Fame (2022)
Last updated on 5 July 2024

Dancing Brave (11 May 1983 – 2 August 1999) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from the autumn of 1985 until October 1986, he ran ten times and won eight races. Dancing Brave was the outstanding European racehorse of 1986, when he won the 2000 Guineas, the Eclipse Stakes, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. His only defeats came in the Derby and the Breeders' Cup Turf. A modest sire of winners in Europe, he was later exported to Japan, where he enjoyed more success before his death in August 1999.

Dancing Brave is regarded as one of the greatest racehorses of the twentieth century.

Background

[edit]

Dancing Brave was a bay colt with a white snip and three white feet, standing sixteen hands high, bred by the Glen Oak Farm in Kentucky.[2] He was not a particularly attractive individual as a young horse, being described as parrot-mouthed with imperfect forelegs.[3] Dancing Brave was sired by Lyphard out of Navajo Princess, a mare who won sixteen races including the Molly Pitcher Handicap. Navajo Princess was a descendant of the mare Stolen Kiss, who was the ancestor of notable racehorses including the Epsom Derby winner Henbit and the Kentucky Derby winner Lucky Debonair.[4]

He was purchased as a yearling by James Delahooke, on behalf of Khalid Abdullah for US$200,000 in Kentucky. The colt was sent into training with Guy Harwood at Pulborough.[5] At the time, Harwood was noted for his modern approach to training, introducing Britain to features such as artificial gallops and barn-style stabling.[6]

Racing career

[edit]

1985: Two-year-old season

[edit]

Dancing Brave was a May foal, and as Harwood did not believe in racing horses until they were at least two years and three months old, the colt was given only light training until late summer.[3] Dancing Brave made his first racecourse appearance in the one-mile Dorking Stakes at Sandown in which he started odds-on favourite against three opponents. He won easily by three lengths from Mighty Memory. In the Soham House Stakes at Newmarket, Dancing Brave again started favourite after reports that he had been performing better at home than the stable's William Hill Futurity winner Bakharoff. He won by two and a half lengths from Northern Amethyst, with Nisnas in third. Despite never having contested a Group Race and being rated eleven pounds below the top-rated Bakharoff in the International Classification, he was made 10/1 winter favourite for the following year's 2000 Guineas.[7]

1986: Three-year-old season

[edit]

Spring

[edit]

Dancing Brave opened his three-year-old campaign with a victory over Faraway Dancer and Mashkour[8] in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April. Over the same course and distance two weeks later he started 15/8 favourite against fourteen opponents in the 2000 Guineas. Ridden by Greville Starkey, he quickened in the closing stages of a slowly run race to win by three lengths from Green Desert and Huntingdale. After the race, Starkey was confident that the colt would stay one and a half miles in the Derby, although Harwood was more cautious.[9]

Summer

[edit]

In The Derby a month later Dancing Brave started favourite, despite concerns about his ability to stay the distance of twelve furlongs. Starkey employed exaggerated waiting tactics and Dancing Brave was close to last place entering the home straight. Switched to the outside to make his challenge, Dancing Brave accelerated in the last quarter mile, being clocked at 10.3 seconds for the penultimate furlong. He failed to catch the leader Shahrastani finishing second by half a length. His jockey, Greville Starkey, was widely criticised for his tactics, but he has been defended by others, including Harwood, who pointed out that the race was run at a muddling pace and that Starkey could only have won if he had "cut the horse in half",[6] which as the stable jockey he was unwilling to do. Starkey kept the ride for Dancing Brave's next race, Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park. Racing against older horses for the first time he won in "breathtaking style"[10] by four lengths from Triptych and Teleprompter. However, when Starkey was injured and unable to ride the horse in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot he was replaced by Pat Eddery who became the preferred choice in the colt's remaining races. The Ascot race saw a rematch between Dancing Brave and Shahrastani. Since winning the Derby, Shahrastani had won the Irish Derby by eight lengths and started favourite for the King George. Eddery produced Dancing Brave's run earlier than usual, taking him into the lead over a furlong from home and the colt had to be ridden out to hold off Shardari by three-quarters of a length, with Triptych third, Shahrastani fourth and Petoski fifth.[11] Eddery reported that Dancing Brave idled in front.[1]

Autumn

[edit]

After a break, Dancing Brave returned in the Select Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in September. He tracked the leaders before pulling away in the closing stages to win by ten lengths.[12] On his final European appearance, Dancing Brave was sent overseas for the first time to contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in Paris. Apart from Shardari, Shahrastani and Triptych, the field also included the German champion Acatenango and the French colt Bering, who was unbeaten in four races in 1986. Eddery restrained Dancing Brave in the early stages before switching him to the wide outside to challenge in the straight as the runners spread across the width of the course. With 200m to run he was not in the first ten, but produced an "electrifying burst"[5] to take the lead 50m from the finish and won by a length and a half from Bering[13] in a race record time of 2:27.7. On his final appearance was then sent to California to contest the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park but failed to reproduce his best form, finishing fourth behind Manila. Dancing Brave suffered an injury in the race when he was struck in the eye by a clod of turf.[14]

Assessment

[edit]

At the end of 1986, the panel of Racehorse handicappers met from the major racing nations of Europe to determine the International Classifications, the annual rating of thoroughbred racehorses who have run in Europe. Dancing Brave was awarded a rating of 141, the highest rating ever given to any horse up to that time.[1] These are the official ratings as recognised by the organised racing bodies in Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, Switzerland and Austria. In January 2013 the ratings were "recalibrated" and Dancing Brave was given a revised rating of 138, now putting him second to Frankel who was rated at 140.[15] Dancing Brave was given a rating of 140 by Timeform.[1][16] In 1999, The Independent described Dancing Brave as "the greatest British Flat champion of the last quarter of a century".[5]

Dancing Brave was voted the official British Horse of the Year in 1986 by the Racegoers' Club. By taking all 27 votes in the poll he was the first horse to be unanimously elected since Brigadier Gerard in 1971.[1]

Pat Eddery called Dancing Brave the best horse he ever rode, and a "once in a lifetime ride", while Khalid Abdulla described him as the outstanding horse to have carried his colours. Guy Harwood called him "very much the best I trained".[17] In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Dancing Brave as the sixth best British racehorse of the 20th century, and the sixteenth best horse of the century trained in any country.[18]

Stud career

[edit]

Dancing Brave was syndicated with an estimated value of £14m. He retired to stand as a stallion at the Dalham Hall Stud at Newmarket with an initial stud fee of £120,000. According to Tony Morris in Thoroughbred Stallions (1990), he was known to often pass on his parrot mouth to his stock. In November 1987 he was found to be suffering from Marie's disease[19] and had fertility problems in 1988.[20] His modest early success led to his being exported to Japan, to stand at the Shizunai Stallion Station at Hokkaidō in 1991. He died on August 2, 1999, of a heart attack.[21]

He sired numerous winners, having a particularly good crop of three-year-olds in 1993, foaled in the year before his export, including Commander in Chief, who won The Derby and the Irish Derby, and White Muzzle, second in both the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Other good winners included Wemyss Bight, Cherokee Rose and Ivanka.[22] The best of his Japanese offspring was the filly T.M. Ocean who won the Oka Sho and the Shuka Sho in 2001.[23] Among his other Japanese offsprings were King Halo, who won the Takamatsunomiya Kinen in 2000 and became the damsire of Equinox and Pixie Knight,[24] as well as Kyoei March, winner of the 1997 Oka Sho and granddam of 2021 BC Distaff winner Marche Lorraine.[25][26]

Pedigree

[edit]
Pedigree of Dancing Brave, bay stallion, 1983[2]
Sire
Lyphard (USA)
1969 		Northern Dancer (CAN)
1961 		Nearctic Nearco
Lady Angela
Natalma Native Dancer
Almahmoud
Goofed (USA)
1960 		Court Martial Fair Trial
Instantaneous
Barra Formor
La Favorite
Dam
Navajo Princess (USA)
1974 		Drone (USA)
1966 		Sir Gaylord Turn-To
Somethingroyal
Cap and Bells Tom Fool
Ghanzi
Olmec (USA)
1966 		Pago Pago Matrice
Pompilia
Chocolate Beau Beau Max
Otra (Family 3-d[4])

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dancing Brave

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dancing Brave (11 May 1983 – 2 August 1999) was an American-bred, British-trained racehorse renowned for his exceptional 1986 campaign in a career with eight victories in ten starts, including the , , , and , while narrowly finishing second in the . Foaled in , Dancing Brave was sired by the influential stallion Lyphard out of the Drone mare Navajo Princess, making him a colt with strong American bloodlines despite his training in under Guy Harwood for owner Khalid Abdullah. Purchased as a yearling for $200,000, he debuted with two wins in his juvenile season in 1985, including the Dorking Stakes at , showcasing early promise with a powerful finishing kick that would define his style. His 1986 season began with a victory in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket, followed by a dominant three-length win in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes over , establishing him as a leading classic contender. In the , ridden by Greville Starkey, Dancing Brave launched a breathtaking late charge from the rear but fell short by a half-length to Shahrastani, having been positioned 15 lengths off the pace with three furlongs remaining. He rebounded spectacularly in subsequent races, with Pat Eddery taking over as to claim the at by four lengths, the King and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in a thrilling finish, and culminating with a record-breaking at Longchamp, where he overcame a wide draw to win by 1.5 lengths in a time of 2 minutes 27.7 seconds. His only other blemish was a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita, hampered by the firm ground. Retired with career earnings of £987,077 (approximately $1.4 million), Dancing Brave was hailed as the European Horse of the Year and received a Timeform rating of 140, the highest at the time and later surpassed only by Frankel among modern horses. At stud in England and later Japan, he sired notable Group 1 winners including Derby victor Commander in Chief and Irish Oaks winner Wemyss Bight, with his peak stud fee reaching £120,000 before his death in 1999. He remains the only horse to have won the unique combination of the 2,000 Guineas, Eclipse Stakes, King George, and Arc de Triomphe.

Background

Breeding and Early Development

Dancing Brave was foaled on May 11, 1983, at Glen Oak Farm in Kentucky, United States, as a bay colt bred by Glen Oak Farm and Gainesway Farm. His sire, Lyphard, a son of the influential Northern Dancer, brought a strong influence of speed and precocity to the pedigree, while his dam, Navajo Princess, by Drone, was a durable racemare with a record of 16 wins from 35 starts, earning $349,915 and including victories in stakes races such as the Molly Pitcher Handicap (G2). This genetic foundation combined European stamina from the Northern Dancer line with American toughness, positioning Dancing Brave as a prospect for versatile middle-distance success. As a , Dancing Brave exhibited a well-balanced frame typical of his breeding, with a medium size that suggested both agility and endurance potential, though he was noted as somewhat backward in development due to his late May foaling date. He was consigned to the Fasig-Tipton July yearling sale in 1984, where his strong conformation and promising pedigree drew attention from international buyers seeking Thoroughbreds with classic potential. At the sale, Dancing Brave was purchased for $200,000 by bloodstock agent James Delahooke acting on behalf of Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah, marking a relatively modest for a whose lineage hinted at exceptional talent. Trainer Guy Harwood, who would later oversee his career, briefly assessed the colt post-sale and recognized his inherent quality despite his immaturity.

Ownership and Training

Dancing Brave was acquired as a by Farms, the thoroughbred racing and breeding operation owned by Saudi Prince Khalid Abdullah, through his agent James Delahooke at the Fasig-Tipton July Sale in for $200,000 in 1984. Despite minor conformational flaws such as a wall eye and parrot mouth, Delahooke recognized the colt's athletic potential from his Lyphard, a noted speed influence that shaped expectations for a training regimen focused on explosive finishing ability. This purchase marked an early highlight in Prince Khalid's expanding stable, which emphasized quality bloodstock for European competition. Upon arrival in , the colt was placed under the care of trainer Guy Harwood at his state-of-the-art Coombelands stables in , , a facility renowned for its innovative approach to conditioning high-caliber thoroughbreds in the . Harwood, who had built a reputation for preparing champions through disciplined, science-informed methods including early use of equine treadmills, began Dancing Brave's break-in process in May 1985 at the start of his two-year-old year. The regimen quickly intensified in with rigorous ground work designed to build acceleration and balance, allowing the late-foaled colt—born on , —to mature steadily without undue pressure. Initial trials featured stable jockey Greville Starkey, whose feedback helped refine the colt's handling ahead of his racecourse introduction. In the stable environment, Dancing Brave integrated into a routine of daily gallops on the downs, which emphasized stamina development through progressive workloads tailored to his growing constitution, supplemented by a nutrient-rich diet to support muscle and gains. No major injuries were reported during this pre-debut phase, underscoring the effectiveness of Harwood's cautious progression with promising juveniles. Among his stablemates were other prospects, fostering a competitive yet supportive atmosphere that honed his competitive edge without overexertion.

Racing Career

1985: Two-Year-Old Season

Dancing Brave, a late May , began his racing career toward the end of his juvenile season under the guidance of trainer Guy Harwood, who opted for a light campaign to allow the colt time to mature. The colt made an impressive debut in the Dorking Stakes over one mile at in 1985, where stable jockey Greville Starkey guided him to an easy victory by three lengths as the favorite in a small field of four runners. Two weeks later, Dancing Brave confirmed the promise of his first outing in the Soham House Stakes, also over one mile at Newmarket in 1985. Again ridden by Starkey and sent off favorite amid reports of strong home performances surpassing those of stablemate Bakharoff, he quickened clear to win by two and a half lengths without being fully extended. These two victories over minor company earned Dancing Brave a Timeform rating of 110p, positioning him as the ante-post favorite for the 2000 Guineas despite higher-rated two-year-olds such as Huntingdale (132) and Bakharoff (130). His season record stood at two starts with two wins.

1986: Spring Campaign

Dancing Brave entered his three-year-old season with considerable anticipation following his unbeaten two-year-old campaign and high rating, positioning him as a leading contender for the classic races. On April 17, 1986, he made a successful reappearance in the Craven Stakes (Group 3) at Newmarket over one mile on soft ground, starting as the 11/8 favorite under jockey Greville Starkey for trainer Guy Harwood and owner Khalid Abdullah. Dancing Brave quickened impressively to win by one length from Faraway Dancer, with the race run in a slow time of 1m 49.96s, confirming his status as the ante-post favorite for the . Two weeks later, on May 3, 1986, Dancing Brave secured his first classic success in the () at Newmarket, again over one mile on good ground. Ridden by Starkey, he produced an impressive turn of foot to win by three lengths from , with Huntingdale third, earning £121,116 in prize money and further enhancing his reputation as a top miler capable of classic distances. Dancing Brave arrived at the on June 4, 1986, as the 2/1 favorite in a field of 16, but his bid for glory ended in controversy. Despite being settled towards the rear early on, Starkey delayed his challenge, leaving Dancing Brave trapped behind traffic entering the straight; when finally asked to quicken in the final furlong, the colt closed with remarkable speed—recording the fastest sectional time in Derby history—but could only manage second place, beaten by half a length by Shahrastani ridden by . The ride drew widespread criticism for not pressing earlier, prompting owner Abdullah to switch jockeys to Pat Eddery for all future starts.

1986: Summer Campaign

Dancing Brave opened his summer campaign with a commanding performance in the at Park on July 5, 1986, marking his first victory in a weight-for-age contest against older horses. Ridden by Greville Starkey, the colt faced strong opposition including the high-class four-year-old and the six-year-old . Triptych briefly quickened past Dancing Brave entering the final two furlongs, but Starkey produced a powerful response, with the three-year-old accelerating late to draw clear and win by four lengths on good to firm ground, recording the season's best timefigure for the 1 mile 2 furlong distance. Three weeks later, Dancing Brave stepped up in trip for the at Ascot on July 26, 1986, with Pat Eddery replacing Starkey, who had suffered an injury shortly after the . Over 1 mile 4 furlongs on good ground, Eddery settled the colt patiently in a strongly contested field that included winner Shahrastani, previous year's runner-up Shardari, and . Dancing Brave made rapid headway in the straight, surging to the lead 1.5 furlongs out and quickening impressively to repel Shardari's renewed challenge, prevailing by three-quarters of a length with a further three lengths back in third. The victory highlighted his exceptional late acceleration and ability to cover ground efficiently against seasoned weight-for-age rivals. These mid-season triumphs, both Group 1 events open to older horses, confirmed Dancing Brave's superiority over top competition and propelled him to the forefront of the season, with the combined purses significantly enhancing his earnings and status as Europe's premier middle-distance performer.

1986: Autumn Campaign

Following his victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Dancing Brave enjoyed a brief rest before resuming in the Group 3 Select Stakes at Goodwood on September 12, . Ridden by Greville Starkey, he produced an effortless performance over 1 mile 1 furlong, winning by 10 lengths in a course-record time and confirming his peak condition as a final preparation for the . Dancing Brave's autumn campaign reached its zenith in the at Longchamp on October 5, 1986, where he faced an elite field including the French Derby winner Bering and the Oaks winner . With Pat Eddery in the saddle for the first time, Dancing Brave settled toward the rear of the 20-runner field before launching a devastating late charge in the final 200 meters, collaring Bering in the dying strides to prevail by 1½ lengths over , with Bering a further neck away in third. The victory came in a record time of 2:27.7 for the 1½-mile distance on firm ground, shattering the previous mark set by Akiyda in 1982. Seeking to cap his season with a transatlantic triumph, Dancing Brave was shipped to for the Breeders' Cup Turf on November 1, 1986, entering as the heavy favorite at of 1-2 on the strength of his European dominance. However, over the firm turf course—unfamiliar to the colt accustomed to softer European conditions—he faded in the stretch after a wide trip and finished fourth, beaten 2¾ lengths by the winner , with the travel and resultant loss of condition cited as key factors in his underperformance. In total for 1986, Dancing Brave made eight starts, recording six victories—including four successes—and one second-place finish, retiring after an unbeaten sequence in his final four outings prior to the Breeders' Cup.

Assessment and Honors

Performance Ratings

Dancing Brave received a rating of 140, the highest awarded to any horse since Brigadier Gerard's 144 in 1972. This peak assessment reflected his exceptional form throughout the 1986 season, particularly in major races where he demonstrated superior ability against elite competition. In the official International Classifications for 1986, Dancing Brave was originally rated at 141, earning him recognition as the top-rated three-year-old colt in and the highest-rated overall since the system's inception in 1977. Following a 2013 recalibration by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA), his rating was revised to 138. This rating underscored his dominance in middle-distance events, with noting his victory as producing the season's best timefigure. Statistically, Dancing Brave exhibited remarkable versatility across turf distances from 7 furlongs to 1 mile 4 furlongs, winning Group 1 races over 1 mile (2000 Guineas by 3 lengths), 1 mile 2 furlongs (Eclipse Stakes by 4 lengths), and 1 mile 4 furlongs (King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes by ¾ length; Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe by 1½ lengths). His King George performance yielded the second-highest timefigure of 1986, while the Arc run set a track record at Longchamp, highlighting his explosive finishing speed. Compared to contemporaries, Dancing Brave's ratings significantly outpaced rivals such as Shahrastani (Timeform 135) in the King George and (Timeform 132), whom he defeated in multiple high-level contests including the and Arc.

Awards and Legacy

Dancing Brave was named the British Horse of the Year for 1986 by the Racegoers' Club, recognizing his dominance in European flat racing that season. This accolade underscored his exceptional performances, including victories in major races that highlighted his speed and resilience. In 2022, he was inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame alongside , honoring his contributions to British racing history. The induction ceremony celebrated Dancing Brave as one of the greatest horses to grace the turf, with tributes from trainer Guy Harwood and owner Prince Khalid Abdullah emphasizing his unparalleled talent. Dancing Brave's legacy endures as a symbol of dramatic comebacks in , most notably through his thrilling late surge in the 1986 . Starting from a wide draw and positioned at the rear of the field, he overtook the entire pack in the final furlong to win by one and a half lengths, a finish widely regarded as one of the most spectacular in the race's history. This performance, against a field including Derby winners Shahrastani and Bering, has been voted by readers as the greatest horse race ever, cementing its place in racing lore. As an icon of British , Dancing Brave represents the pinnacle of mid-1980s Thoroughbred excellence, inspiring generations of trainers, jockeys, and fans with his explosive finishing ability. His career, marked by innovative methods under Guy Harwood that emphasized controlled energy release, continues to influence strategies for horses with strong closing kicks. Featured in numerous racing retrospectives and archival footage, Dancing Brave's story highlights the artistry and unpredictability of the sport, ensuring his status as a timeless legend.

Stud Career

European Breeding Years

Following his exceptional racing career, which culminated in victories in the 2,000 Guineas, , King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and in 1986, Dancing Brave was retired to Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket, , owned by Farms, at the start of the 1987 breeding season. His initial stud fee was set at £120,000, reflecting high expectations for his progeny given his status as the world's top-rated racehorse at the time. Early in his stud career, Dancing Brave encountered challenges, including a of Marie's Disease (hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy) in 1987, which limited his activities during the 1988 season. Despite these setbacks, he recovered sufficiently to cover mares productively thereafter, siring his first crop of foals in 1988. This crop demonstrated promising results, producing multiple stakes winners that underscored his potential as a , with overall career statistics showing 31 stakes winners from 434 named foals of racing age. Among the standout early progeny from his European years were , who won the 1993 and , and Wemyss Bight, victor of the 1993 Irish Oaks. These achievements highlighted how Dancing Brave's racing legacy of speed and stamina translated effectively to his offspring in the breeding shed.

Japanese Export and Progeny

In 1991, following a period of modest success as a sire in , Dancing Brave was exported to to continue his stud career at Shizunai Stallion Station in . This move marked a significant international expansion for the champion racehorse, where he contributed to the Japanese breeding industry amid growing interest in European bloodlines during the early 1990s. Dancing Brave achieved greater impact as a in Japan than in his native continent, producing several high-class performers on local tracks. Notable among his Japanese progeny was the filly T.M. Ocean, who secured victories in the 2001 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) and Shuka Sho, establishing herself as a leading three-year-old filly that year. Other key offspring included Kyoei March, winner of the 1997 Oka Sho, highlighting Dancing Brave's versatility in transmitting speed and stamina to his Japanese-bred runners. Additionally, sons like King Halo emerged as successful sires themselves, further extending his influence in the region. Overall, Dancing Brave sired ten Group or Grade 1 winners worldwide, demonstrating his enduring genetic legacy despite challenges with fertility in his advancing years. His daughters proved particularly influential as broodmares, amplifying his contributions to global breeding long after his racing peak.

Death and Posthumous Impact

Dancing Brave died on August 2, 1999, at the age of 16 from an apparent heart attack at Shizunai Stallion Station in , . He was buried at the farm, where he had stood as a stallion since 1991, honoring his contributions to Japanese breeding. Posthumously, Dancing Brave's legacy endures through his enhancement of the Lyphard sire line's global influence, particularly via his progeny and their descendants in international . His blood appears in modern champions, such as the Japanese star , who carried multiple lines to Lyphard including through Dancing Brave, aiding the sire line's expansion beyond . Grand-progeny have also featured in European classics, perpetuating traits of speed and stamina derived from his pedigree. Building briefly on his earlier progeny successes, this broader genetic reach underscores Dancing Brave's role in diversifying global breeding stocks without notable commercialization of his remains or memorabilia.

Pedigree

Immediate Ancestry

Dancing Brave was sired by the influential stallion Lyphard, foaled in 1969 and euthanized in 2005 at age 36. Bred in by Mrs. J. O. Burgwin, Lyphard was by out of the mare Goofed. On the racetrack, he won 6 of 12 starts, including the Prix Jacques Le Marois and Prix de la Forêt in as a three-year-old. Lyphard proved exceptionally influential at stud, siring 112 stakes winners from 843 foals and ranking as a leading broodmare sire with 196 stakes winners through his daughters. His dam was Navajo Princess, a bay mare foaled in 1974 and bred by Carl Heidrich in Kentucky. Owned and raced by Glen Oak Farm under trainer Douglas Dodson, she was by Drone (a son of Sir Gaylord) out of Olmec. Navajo Princess excelled as a racemare, securing 16 wins from 35 starts and earning $349,915, with notable victories in the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher Handicap, Grade 3 Falls City Handicap, and the Violet Stakes. As a broodmare, she produced 9 foals, of which 6 became winners, including Dancing Brave. The immediate ancestry of Dancing Brave is summarized in the following pedigree table:
RelationNameSireDam
SireLyphard (1969-2005)Goofed
DamNavajo Princess (1974)DroneOlmec

Family Influence

Dancing Brave's paternal line traced back to Northern Dancer through his sire Lyphard, a lineage renowned for imparting exceptional speed and acceleration to his descendants. Lyphard, himself a high-class miler who won the Prix de la Forêt and Prix Jacques Le Marois, passed on a brilliant turn of foot that was evident in Dancing Brave's dominant performances in middle-distance races like the 2000 Guineas and . This influence, often associated with precocity and class in European racing, contributed significantly to Dancing Brave's ability to quicken dramatically, as seen in his record-breaking final furlong in the 1986 . On the maternal side, Dancing Brave's dam Navajo Princess, by the durable sire Drone, brought stamina and soundness to the pedigree. Drone, a winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes and sire of 44 stakes winners, was known for producing consistent performers capable of handling repeated campaigns. Navajo Princess herself demonstrated this resilience by winning 16 races up to Grade 2 level, including the Handicap, providing Dancing Brave with the endurance needed for his Arc triumph over 1 mile 4 furlongs. Her siblings, such as stakes-placed Foolish Lady, further underscored the family's reliability and class. The pedigree featured low levels of , with a 5x5 cross to Mahmoud at 6.25%, promoting hybrid vigor without the risks of close . This balanced genetic structure amplified Dancing Brave's versatility, blending the speed of his sire line with maternal durability to excel at distances from a mile to 12 furlongs. The Northern Dancer-Lyphard branch has since extended its influence through Dancing Brave's descendants in and , perpetuating traits of and middle-distance prowess in subsequent generations.

References

  1. https://racing.juddmonte.com/race-horse/dancing-brave/
  2. https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/features/top-horses/greatest-racehorses-dancing-brave-2252020
  3. https://horseracinghof.com/hall-of-famers/dancing-brave/
  4. https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=915576&registry=T&rbt=TB
  5. https://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/dancing-brave.html
  6. https://www.horseracingnation.com/horse/Dancing_Brave
  7. https://www.jockeysite.com/stories/dancingbrave.htm
  8. https://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/navajo-princess.html
  9. https://www.theownerbreeder.com/stories/renowned-agent-james-delahooke-dies/
  10. https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/10509416/guy-harwood-remembers-motoring-to-the-top-with-dancing-brave
  11. https://horsesandcourses.net/dancing-brave/
  12. https://www.horseracingchat.co.uk/famoushorses/
  13. https://www.racingpost.com/results/38/newmarket/1986-04-17/491579
  14. https://www.horseracingnation.com/race/1986_English_2000_Guineas
  15. https://historyofsport.org/horse-racing/dancing-brave-defeated-in-derby-1986/
  16. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/apr/15/greville-starkey-obituary
  17. https://www.sportinglife.com/racing/news/eclipse-clashes-of-the-generations/192809
  18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvehLuIcYYk
  19. https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/features/previews/blast-from-the-past-1986-king-george-vi-and-queen-elizabeth-stakes-2772017
  20. https://gb.readly.com/magazines/horse-and-hound/2024-02-08/65c29a95af446411a32c53b7
  21. https://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/06/sports/irish-jockey-sets-paris-race-record.html
  22. https://breederscup.com/races/bcwc/1986/turf
  23. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-11-02-sp-15661-story.html
  24. https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/features/top-horses/timeform%25E2%2580%2599s-greatest-racehorses-brigadier-gerard-2252020
  25. https://garethflynn.com/curious_case_dancing_braves_official_rating.html
  26. https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing/20988930
  27. https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/features/rowley/simon-rowlands-analysing-dancing-brave-and-other-great-arc-winners-2892020
  28. https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/pedigree-progeny/shahrastani/000000000519/sire
  29. https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing/61207142
  30. https://juddmonte.com/post/dancing-brave-inducted-into-the-qipco-hall-of-fame/
  31. https://www.racingpost.com/news/features/series/dancing-braves-iconic-arc-success-is-voted-your-greatest-ever-horserace-aBrJF7T6pgWn/
  32. https://juddmonte.com/post/dancing-braves-iconic-arc-the-greatest-horserace/
  33. https://www.badgersbloodstock.co.uk/single-post/the-greatest-race-ever-dancing-brave-s-arc
  34. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1988/03/31/dancing-brave-cured-of-maries-disease/49ef4674-103d-4c79-a7fb-903e5dc7474c/
  35. https://jbba.jp/en/stallion/history.html
  36. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/194842/japan-cup-winner-unanimous-as-countrys-best-horse
  37. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/horses/card/915576
  38. https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/dancing-brave-dies-in-japan-1.213446
  39. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/258162352/dancing_brave
  40. https://pastthewire.com/stallion-dynasties-lyphard-by-kaitlin-free/
  41. https://theownerbreeder.com/columns/no-stopping-japan-on-the-world-stage/
  42. https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/pdf/cau/cau140415.pdf
  43. https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/169994/lyphard-euthanized-at-age-36
  44. https://sporthorse-data.com/pedigree/lyphard
  45. https://www.americanclassicpedigrees.com/lyphard.html
  46. https://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=604394&registry=T&rbt=TB
  47. https://en.netkeiba.com/db/horse/000a0000cc/
  48. https://en.netkeiba.com/db/horse/ped/000a0000cc/
  49. https://paulickreport.com/news/bloodstock/bloodlines-northern-dancers-small-stature-and-long-shadow
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