Royal Gem
Any stallion with a similar genetic make-up to that of breedshaping sire Storm Cat needs to be given more than a passing glance. If one adds in Group 1 form, the ability to accelerate strongly at the end of a race and a pedigree which should complement many New Zealand – based broodmares, then the stallion concerned becomes very interesting indeed.
Royal Academy has been around for a long time now and there’s always a tendency in our industry to underrate the tried and true; novelty and quality are too often seen as synonymous. However, any stallion which has produced nearly 150 SWs is clearly top class and the other bonus of longevity is that there is a heap of evidence to suggest which bloodlines are suitable for mating with such a stallion or his sons. For example, Bletchingly, Shirley Heights and Woodman mares have done very well indeed with Royal Academy and there’s no reason to suggest that Royal Gem will not follow this pattern.
New Zealand breeders won’t often have come across Effervescing – Royal Gem’s damsire – in local catalogues, but he was a multiple Group winner and once distinguished himself by winning a Group 3 and a Listed race on different surfaces in the space of six days. He’s one of the La Troienne tribe but you have to wonder whether, being by Le Fabuleux, he might have gained greater stallion success ( 16 SW including two champions) on the other side of the Atlantic. What is beyond conjecture is that Royal Academy x Effervescing works: the high-class Top Hat (BRZ), winner of two Group 1 events this year, is bred on just this cross.
On the other hand, one thing all kiwi breeders will be aware of is the power of the Nasrullah – Princequillo nick. Royal Gem’s second dam is by Secretariat and his third-dam sire, Ack Ack, has both Turn-to and Princequillo close up; thus these valuable genes are intensified.
All in all, he’s a most appealing package.
