Holy Roman Emperor: Danehill’s Heir Apparent in Hong Kong

by Alan Carasso

The influence of Danehill in Hong Kong dates back to the late 1990s, with Fairy King Prawn (Aus)–a seven-time champion in the region, who won the Hong Kong Sprint in 1999 and was famously runner-up in the G1 Hong Kong Mile in 2000 and in the G1 Dubai Duty Free S. a few months later. 

The sire’s offspring became increasingly popular and were offered with greater frequency at the Hong Kong International Sale. In 2001, a son of Mer du Sud (Ire) (Bluebird) fetched HK$1.6 million (US$205,128). The Australian-bred gelding came to be known as The Duke (Aus) and hit the board in the Hong Kong Mile in 2004 and 2005 before registering a 14-1 upset in 2006. Over the next handful of years, his ready-to-run horses attracted bids of HK$7.5 million (US$965,873) for an Irish-bred half-brother to U.S. champion juvenile Dehere, HK$4.7 million, HK$4.2 million and HK$3.6 million.

Another foal of 1999, Lucky Owners (NZ) accomplished the rare feat of winning the Hong Kong Mile in late 2003 before adding the Hong Kong Derby three months later.

Danehill’s untimely passing in May 2003 had ripple effects around the world, but the sire’s stallions sons have carried on his legacy in Hong Kong, with the likes of G1 Hong Kong Vase upsetter Dominant (Ire) (Cacique {Ire}), G1 Al Quoz Sprint hero Amber Sky (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and International Group 2 winners like Endowing (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Blazing Speed (GB) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) making their presence felt.

But perhaps no son of the former Coolmore shuttler is creating more of a stir than Holy Roman Emperor (Ire), whose name appears in the pedigrees of some of the best local runners, and indeed, the world.

While reigning Hong Kong Mile hero Able Friend (Aus) (Shamardal) is the highest-rated galloper locally, Designs on Rome (Ire) has certainly done his part to put his sire firmly among the world’s top stallions. After dropping the Classic Mile to Able Friend 12 months ago, the Moyglare-bred son of Summer Trysting (Alleged) turned the tables in the Hong Kong Classic Cup and Hong Kong Derby before announcing his arrival really and truly with a defeat of Military Attack (Ire)–by Danehill’s Oratorio (Ire)–in last year’s G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Those two rivals also provided the exacta in last month’s G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup.

The Holy Roman Emperor phenomenon also crossed the Pacific last fall, when another Moyglare-bred, Rich Tapestry (Ire), came over to the United States and took down the colors of Goldencents (Into Mischief) in the GI Santa Anita Sprint Championship. The first half of the season was accentuated by his victory in the G3 Mahab al Shimaal at Meydan and a runner-up effort in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen to Sterling City (Aus), a paternal great-grandson of Danehill (by Nadeem {Aus}, by Redoute’s Choice {Aus}). Rich Tapestry has recently been given the green light to return to training and is being aimed for a return trip to Meydan this coming March.

Holy Roman Emperor is also represented by one of the top local sprinters on the turf in the form of Charles the Great (Ire). Winner of the Weatherbys Super Sprint and Group 3-placed in Europe, he defeated Sterling City in the 2013 G2 Jockey Club Sprint to go along with his victories in the Sha Tin Vase H. and a one-length defeat of Lucky Nine (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Sprint Cup last April.

Sunday’s Hong Kong Classic Mile hero Beauty Only (Ire) looks an ideal candidate to further extend his sire’s influence as he tries to follow in the considerable hoofprints of Designs on Rome. Winner of the G3 Premio Guido Berardelli in 2013, the blaze-faced bay made an immediate impact locally with two straight handicap wins, but entered yesterday’s Classic Mile off back-to-back defeats. Those who still believed got a healthy 9-1 Sunday, and the way he came away from market leaders Divine Calling (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}) and Giant Treasure (Mizzen Mast) suggests the Classic Cup and Derby could be right up his alley.

While Danehill may be gone, he continues to play a large role and in Holy Roman Emperor, Hong Kong may have his heir apparent.