WITH almost double the number of runners of his nearest competitors, Danehill captured his fourth successive Champion Broodmare Sire title in Australia in 2008-09 with 203 winners (13SW) of $9,255,275 from 488 runners.

His nearest rivals on the domestic scene were the NZ-based duo of Centaine (deceased) with 120 winners from 259 runners (11SW) of $8,656,637 and Zabeel 130 winners, 291 runners (11SW) of $8352,436. They were followed by deceased duo Last Tycoon and Rory’s Jester and then Canny Lad, Snippets, Scenic, Bluebird and Marscay, the last four also deceased.

However the list takes on a different complexion when Australian and NZ broodmare earnings are combined, with Centaine emerging as a clear winner, his daughters producing 173 winners from 385 runners (13SW) of $10,054,267 (led by Vision and Power) to Danehill’s total of 222 winners from 533 runners (15SW) of $9,890,721 (Tuesday Joy) and Zabeel 170/386 (13SW) of $9,146,513 (Samantha Miss).

Australian-bred Centaine (Century-Rainbeam by Vain) had been runner-up on the combined table in three of the past four seasons before his success in 2008-09, while Danehill topped the combined list in the previous three seasons. The remaining horses on the combined list top 10 occupy exactly the same positions as they did on the Australian-only prizemoney list while 11th and 12th spots are held by Marauding and his sire Sir Tristram, with Dehere daughters now proving their value and putting this still-active sire into 13th position ahead of Royal Academy and Grosvenor. The Australasian Broodmares Sires top 20 is made up of Khozzam, Success Express, Flying Spur (the first Danehill son on the list and eighth the previous season), Zeditave and Bellotto. Scenic’s son Blevic was in 21st position, his daughters producing eight winners, led by Golden Slipper hero Phelan Ready.