THE RACEHORSE
MY JOY is a magnificently conformed, athletic son of Danehill who was born in Australia. So well is he bred, he was purchased to race in Hong Kong. Racing in one of the hardest arenas of the world thoroughbred stage, My Joy raced from ages 2 to 4 inclusive and won two races over 1600 metres. Additionally he ran a further five seconds and two thirds. He retired with earnings of HK$1,867,600. Such was the success and popularity of the Danehill sons at stud in Australia, that My Joy has been returned to the country of his birth to stand at stud.

HIS SIRE LINE
MY JOY's sire Danehill needs no introduction to Australian breeders. Undisputed as the greatest stallion to stand at stud in this country since Star Kingdom, Danehill passed away in 2003. His stallion dynasty will live on for many decades to come, as his sons prove successful at stud. Stallion sons of Danehill at stud in Australia include Danzero (sire of 2004 Golden Slipper and Magic Millions winner Dance Hero), Danehill Dancer (sire of international Group 1 winning sprinter Choisir and multiple Group 1 mare Private Steer), Flying Spur (sire of Group 1 gallopers the calibre of All Time High) as well as Danewin, Nothin' Leica Dane, Lion Hunter etc.

HIS DAM LINE
MY JOY's dam line is interesting in that soundness is the first attribute you note, as all first five dams are race track performed.

First dam Suggestive is a representative of the Northern Dancer sire line via his grandson Al Hareb (who was the sire of champion sprinter Hareeba). Suggestive was a race track winner at 2YO and she was also a full sister to the Bruce McLachlan trained top class 2YO Pottinger. A precocious 2YO, Pottinger won three races at that age, including the listed BATC Stakes and ran a great 3rd placing in a Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast. Pottinger has a half sister - namely the talented Sacred Hill, trained by Peter Moody in Melbourne. Three other winners are also half relations to Pottinger, Suggestive and Sacred Hill. They are These Days (a listed placegetter in the Stuart Crystal Stakes in Adelaide), Mulberry which won 5 races and Ballymore Red a racetrack winner over 1600 metres.

Third dam of My Joy is the New Zealand mare Sister Grace, who is a half sister to top class galloper Gallery Level (Group 2 winner of the AJC San Domenico Stakes and Group 1 second placegetter in a QTC Castlemaine Stakes). Sister Grace has already produced two successful stallion sons - namely Groucho (who won four Group 2's and ran four Group 1 seconds) and Acecay (Group 2 winner).

Even going back to the fifth dam of My Joy - a mare called Glow Worm, you can find great Queensland gallopers. Glow Worm won three races at 2YO. Her daughter Irish Light won seven races and ran 2nd in a Queensland Oaks (Group 1). When retired, she was mated with stallion Free King. The resultant foal raced as the great Queensland sprinter Kero. Owned by former Brisbane bookie Brian Kelly, Kero won 16 races and ran 2nd in a Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, when taken to Melbourne in 1979, to the flying machine from Newcastle - Mistress Anne.

This dam line has performed for 30 years that I can find - across 5 generations.

PROGENY TO DATE
The first foals of MY JOY will be born in the 2004-2005 season and he is re-located to stand for the first time at Burwood Stud in the 2004-2005 season.

Compiled by Phil Purser