Royal Academy is permanently in Australia now, only serving minimal books. They have left him down here due to climate. Would say his best two horses were Bel Esprit, who was the Champion Australia 2YO of his season in Australia and outstanding 3yo sprinter at WFA and Bullish Luck who won 4 Group 1 races (3 in Hong Kong, 1 in Japan and placed 3rd in a Dubai World Cup).
Other news from stallions around the globe, and courtesy of
www.breedingracing.com:
* Octagonal Son Laverock To Stud In France
In France, former Australian Horse-Of-The-Year & 10-times Gr1-winning Woodlands & now
Darley sire Octagonal's Gr1-winning 6YO son Laverock (Octagonal-Sky Song, by Sadler's Wells) "is to stand at Haras L'Abbaye at a fee of €1,500 (A$2,850) for 2009," reported
thoroughbredinternet.com. Laverock (1 of 4 Gr1-winners to date sired by Octagonal) won 5 of his 27 starts, including victories in both 2006's French Gr1 Prix d'Ispahan (1850m) at Longchamp & Italian Gr1 Gran Premio del Jockey Club (2400m) at San Siro, as well as 2005's French Gr3 Prix Andre Baboin-Grand Prix De Provinces (2000m) at Bordeaux. His long list of international stakes-placings include: 2005's French Gr2 Grand Prix Eugene Adam (1800m) at Maisons-Laffitte, as well as 3rd across-the-line in the Gr1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby), only to be relegated to 6th in the stewards' room; 2006's French Gr1 Grand Prix De Saint-Cloud (2400m) & Germany's Gr1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (2000m) at Munich: & 2007's Gr1 Gran Premio Del Jockey Club (2400m) at San Siro & UK Gr2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes (12 furlongs) at Newmarket. (Nov 20)
Gr1 Star Linngari To Stud At German Gestut Romerhof
In Germany, multiple European Gr1-winning Irish-bred 6YO entire Linngari (Indian Ridge-Lidakiya, by Kahyasi) "is to retire to stud at Gestut Romerhof," reported
thoroughbredinternet.com. Linngari "is expected to run his last race in Hong Kong in December before his move to Germany". This year Linngari (bred by the Aga Khan) won Germany's Gr1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis Bayerisches Zuchtrennen (2000m) at Munich, as well as placing in both the UK Gr1 Champion Stakes (10 furlongs) at Newmarket & Turkey's Gr2 Topkapi Trophy (1600m on turf) at Veliefendi; & in 2007 he won Italy's Gr1 Premio Vittorio di Capua (1600m) at San Siro, as well as finishing runner up in the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free at Nad Al Sheba. And in 2006 he finished runner-up in France's Gr1 Prix de la Foret (1400m) at Longchamp. (Nov 18)
Rob Roy Retired To UK Hedgeholme Stud
Also in England, 6YO stallion Rob Roy (Lear Fan-Camanoe, by Gone West) has been retired to stand the 2009 season at Darlington-based Hedgeholme Stud in County Durham at a fee of £2,000 (A$4,800). On the track, Rob Roy: won both the 2006 UK Gr2 Sandown Mile over 8 furlongs at Sandown & 2005 Gr3 Joel Stakes over 8 furlongs at Newmarket; finished 2nd in the 2006 UK Gr1 Champion Stakes over 10 furlongs at Newmarket, 2008 UK Gr2 Sandown Mile over 8 furlongs at Sandown & 2005 UK Gr3 Craven Stakes over 8 furlongs at Newmarket; & finished 3rd in the 2006 UK Gr1 Sussex Stakes over 8 furlongs at Goodwood & 2007 US Gr1 Eddie Read Handicap over 9 furlongs at Del Mar. (Nov 12)