Royal Diamond

Last updated

Royal Diamond
Sire King's Best
Grandsire Kingmambo
DamIrresistible Jewel
Damsire Danehill
SexGelding
Foaled9 February 2006 [1]
CountryIreland
Colour Bay
Breeder Moyglare Stud
OwnerE B Rimmer-Osborne House
Andrew Tinkler
Trainer Mark Prescott
Michael Dods
Jonjo O'Neill
Tommy Carmody
Johnny Murtagh
Record39: 9-7-5
Earnings£428,442
Major wins
Irish St. Leger (2012)
Challenge Stakes (2013)
Irish St Leger Trial Stakes (2013)
British Champions Long Distance Cup (2013)

Royal Diamond (foaled 9 February 2006) is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. A slow maturing stayer who was gelded before he appeared on a racecourse, he passed through the hands of five different trainers in a track career which lasted from September 2008 until November 2014. He won several minor races as a three-year-old in 2009 but then lost his form and failed to win in the next two seasons, including and unsuccessful stint as a National Hunt horse. He finally emerged as a top-class performer at the age of six when he rebounded from an unlucky defeat in the Ebor Handicap to record an upset victory in the Irish St. Leger. He was at least as good in the following season when he won the Challenge Stakes, Irish St. Leger Trial Stakes and British Champions Long Distance Cup. He was retired from racing after failing to win in 2014.

Contents

Background

Royal Diamond is a bay gelding with two small white facial markings [2] bred in Ireland by the Moyglare Stud. As a yearling he was consigned to the Goffs sale in October 2007 and was bought for €70,000 by the trainer Mark Prescott. [3] He entered the ownership of E B Rimmer-Osborne House and was taken into training by Prescott as his Heath House Stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.

He was from the fifth crop of foals sired by King's Best who won the 2000 Guineas in 2000. His other progeny included Workforce, Creachadoir, Proclamation, Eishin Flash (Tokyo Yushun, Tenno Sho), Sajjhaa (Dubai Duty Free Stakes) and King's Apostle (Prix Maurice de Gheest). [4] His dam Irresistible Jewel was a top-class racemare who won the Ribblesdale Stakes in 2002 [5] and went on to become a very successful broodmare whose other foals have included Princess Highway (Ribblesdale Stakes) and Mad About You (Gladness Stakes). She was descended from the British broodmare Fictitious (foaled 1957) whose other descendants included Blushing John. [6]

Royal Diamond was gelded in February 2008, before the start of his racing career.

Racing career

2008 2011: early career

Royal Diamond showed little promise as two-year-old. After finishing fourth in a maiden race at Yarmouth Racecourse on 17 September he ran unplaced in similar events at Warwick and Lingfield.

After finishing last of nine on his three-year-old debut, the gelding was moved up in distance and produced a much better effort when finishing second in a handicap over fourteen furlongs at Haydock Park. On 29 July at Sandown Park Racecourse Royal Diamond was assigned a weight of 123 pounds in a handicap and recorded his first success as he won by two and a half lengths at odds of 6/1. [7] The gelding remained unbeaten for the rest of the 2009 season, although his campaign was restricted to minor handicaps over extended distances: he won at Yarmouth in August, Ffos Las in September and Wolverhampton in October. At the end of October Royal Diamond was put up for auction at Tattersalls and was sold for 400,000 guineas to the trainer Michael Dods. [8] The horse passed into the ownership of Andrew Tinkler and joined Dods' stable at Denton, County Durham.

Royal Diamond's time at Dods' stable in 2010 proved to be extremely disappointing as he finished unplaced in all four of his races. In 2011 the gelding was transferred to the stable of Jonjo O'Neill who prepared the horse for a National Hunt campaign. After recording one third place from three runs on the flat in the early part of 2011 Royal Diamond was switched to Hurdling but appeared to show little aptitude for the sport. He fell on his jumping debut at Huntingdon Racecourse and was well beaten in two subsequent appearances over obstacles.

2012: six-year-old season

For the 2012 Flat season, Royal Diamond was moved to Ireland and joined the stable of the former steeplechase jockey Tommy Carmody at the Curragh in County Kildare. After finishing third in a minor race at Dundalk he recorded his first win in two and a half years when he was ridden to victory by Johnny Murtagh in a handicap at Leopardstown on 15 April. [9] He was then moved up in class, finishing second in a valuable handicap at the Curragh in May and third in the Ulster Derby in June. In August the gelding was sent to England for the Ebor Handicap at York Racecourse in which he carried a weight of 126 pounds and started at odds of 16/1. After disputing the lead for most of the way he was beaten a neck by the Godolphin representative Willing Foe after being badly hampered as the winner hung to the left in the closing stages.

Royal Diamond made his first appearance in a Group race on 15 September when he started a 16/1 outsider for the Group One Irish St. Leger over fourteen furlongs on yielding ground at the Curragh. Fame and Glory started favourite ahead of Brown Panther while the other runners included Hartani (Curragh Cup), Aiken (Grand Prix de Chantilly), Massiyn (second in the Ballyroan Stakes) and Simenon (Queen Alexandra Stakes). Fame and Glory set a steady pace with Royal Diamond, partnered by Niall McCullagh, settled in fourth place in the early stages before moving into contention approaching the final turn. Fame and Glory went clear of the field in the straight but then began to struggle as Massiyn, Brown Panther, Aiken and Royal Diamond all stayed on strongly. In a "blanket finish" Royal Diamond gained the advantage in the final stride and won by a head, a short head and a neck from Massiyn, Brown Panther and Aiken. [10]

2013: seven-year-old season

In early 2013, Royal Diamond was sent to the United Arab Emirates and ran twice at Meydan Racecourse in March, making little impact as he ran unplaced in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy and the Sheema Classic. On his returen to Europe in May he produced a slightly better effort as he came home third behind Glen's Diamond and Top Trip in the Yorkshire Cup. A week after his run at York, Royal Diamond changed trainers yet again, moving to the recently established stable of Johnny Murtagh at Coolaghknock Glebe, County Kildare. Murtagh both trained and rode the horse in his remaining six races that year.

Royal Diamond was beaten five lengths into second by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Ernest Hemingway in the Curragh Cup in June and was then dropped in class for the Listed Challenge Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse in July. Starting the 5/4 favourite he took the lead from the start, opened up a clear lead, and won by three and three quarter lengths from Sir Ector despite being eased down by Murtagh in the closing stages. [11] On 8 August in the Ballyroan Stakes he was again beaten by Ernest Hemingway but on this occasion he finished only half a length behind the O'Brien colt. In the Irish St. Leger Trial Stakes sixteen days later he faced Ernest Hemingway yet again in a five-runner field which also included Sir Ector and the improving four-year-old filly Voleuse de Coeurs. Murtagh sent the gelding into the lead from the start and Royal Diamond held off a sustained challenge from Voleuse de Coeurs to win by half a length, with Ernest Hemingway finishing five and a half lengths back in third place. [12] Johnny Murtagh commented "He's really come on from the last day. I tried to be a bit clever last time by going quick but not too quick in front. He comes good at this time of year. Hopefully in three weeks' time he'll come back here and defend his title. He's a wonderful horse for us to have". [13]

On 15 September Royal Diamond attempted to reproduce his 2012 success in the Irish St. Leger and started at odds of 9/2 in a ten-runner field. He led for most of the way but was outpaced in the straight and finished fifth behind Voleuse de Coeurs. The gelding ended his season with a run in the British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot Racecourse on 19 October in which he started a 20/1 outsider. The field was headed by the Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate and included several other top stayers including Saddler's Rock (Goodwood Cup, Doncaster Cup), Harris Tweed (John Porter Stakes) Ahzeemah (Lonsdale Cup) and Times Up (Doncaster Cup). In a tactical change, Murtagh restrained the horse in seventh place before making a forward move in the straight. He stayed on strongly in the closing stages, caught the leader Harris Tweed on the line and won by a nose. [14] After the race Johnny Murtagh said "It's the best day of my life. I can't thank everyone enough for giving me the horses and trusting me. I don't know what to say – I'm stuck for words. He's been a brilliant horse from day one." [15]

2014: eight-year-old season

Royal Diamond remained in training as an eight-year-old but failed to win in five races. He finished second to Leading Light in the Vintage Crop Stakes and then ran unplaced behind the same horse in the Ascot Gold Cup. He was then beaten by Leading Light yet again when finishing second in the Irish St. Leger Stakes. Royal Diamond made a third appearance in the Irish St. Leger, finishing sixth to Brown Panther and was then sent to Australia for a run in the Melbourne Cup. He was made a 100/1 outsider and finished tailed off at the rear of the field.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Royal Diamond (IRE), bay gelding, 2006 [1]
Sire
King's Best (USA)
1997
Kingmambo (USA)
1990
Mr. Prospector Raise a Native
Gold Digger
Miesque Nureyev
Pasadoble
Allegretta (GB)
1978
LombardAgio
Promised Lady
AnatevkaEspresso
Almyra
Dam
Irresistible Jewel (IRE)
1999
Danehill (USA)
1986
Danzig Northern Dancer
Pas de Nom
Razyana His Majesty
Spring Adieu
In Anticipation (IRE)
1991
Sadler's Wells Northern Dancer
Fairy Bridge
Aptostar Fappiano
Stark Drama (family: 1-l) [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vintage Crop</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Vintage Crop was a British-bred Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse best known for becoming the first northern hemisphere trained runner to win Australia's premier race the Melbourne Cup. The chestnut gelding competed in flat racing in Ireland, England, and Australia from 1992 to 1995. He won 16 races in Ireland, England, and Australia. For his performance during the 1993 racing season he earned the Cartier Award for Top Stayer.

Scorpion is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a three-year-old in 2005 he won the Grand Prix de Paris and the St. Leger Stakes. In 2007 he won the Coronation Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sea Moon</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Sea Moon is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. He was initially trained in Britain and as a three-year-old in 2011 he won the Great Voltigeur Stakes, was runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Turf and finished third in the St Leger. In 2012 he won the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot. In 2013 he was sold and sent to be trained in Australia where he won the Herbert Power Stakes. He returned to Europe for three races in 2015 before being retired to stud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bachelor's Double</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Bachelor's Double was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse that raced in Ireland and Britain and was a successful sire in the early 20th century. He won the Irish Derby as a three-year-old and also won the City and Suburban Handicap in 1910 and the Kempton Jubilee in 1911. Retired to stud in 1912, he sired the 1921 Epsom Oaks winner Love in Idleness and the inaugural Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Comrade. He died in 1931 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sole Power</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Sole Power is a British-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist sprinter, he won twelve of his sixty-five races and competed in five different countries in a nine-year racing career. He is unique in being a dual winner of both the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Nunthorpe Stakes at York. His racing style is distinctive: he is usually restrained by his jockey for most of the race before producing a single burst of acceleration in the closing stages.

Royal Rebel was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. A gelding who excelled over extreme distance, he is best known for winning consecutive runnings of the two and a half mile Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2001 and 2002. In a career which lasted from July 1998 until June 2005 he ran thirty-nine times and won seven races. Apart from the Gold Cup, he also won the Ballycullen Stakes, Saval Beg Stakes, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Stakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slade Power</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Slade Power is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. A specialist sprinter, Slade Power won one minor race as a two-year-old in 2011 before winning the Sandy Lane Stakes in England and the Belgrave Stakes in Ireland in 2012. He emerged as a top-class performer as a four-year-old in 2013, winning the Sapphire Stakes, Phoenix Sprint Stakes and British Champions Sprint Stakes. He was even better in 2014, establishing himself as arguably the leading sprinter in Europe by winning the Greenlands Stakes, Diamond Jubilee Stakes and July Cup.

Bahamian Pirate was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a specialist sprinter who produced his best form on soft ground and was trained for most of his racing career by David "Dandy" Nicholls in Yorkshire. He was unraced as a juvenile and did not win a race until he was four years old. As a five-year-old he recorded his first major win when he took the Ayr Gold Cup and went on to win the Listed Bentinck Stakes later that year. We won the Phoenix Sprint Stakes in 2001 but then went three years with only limited success. He returned to form as a nine-year-old and recorded his first Group One success on his sixty-eighth appearance in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse in August 2004. He remained in training until the age of twelve before retiring with a record of 12 wins and 25 places from 104 starts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of St George (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Order of St George is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He is a specialist stayer whose wins include two Irish St. Legers and an Ascot Gold Cup.

Markab is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. Originally trained in France, he did not race as a juvenile and won one minor race from six attempts as a three-year-old in 2006. He was then sold to race in England where he won three small handicap races in 2008 and the Great St. Wilfrid Stakes in the following year. After being transferred to the stable of Henry Candy he belatedly emerged as a top-class performer at the age of seven in 2010 when he won the Greenlands Stakes in Ireland before recording his biggest win in the Group One Betfred Sprint Cup. He remained in training for two more years, winning the Leisure Stakes in 2012 at the age of nine.

Beethoven is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his upset victory in the 2009 Dewhurst Stakes. He was highly tried as a juvenile and ran prominently in several major races before winning the Dewhurst on his tenth appearance of the season at odds of 33/1. As a three-year-old he won the Desmond Stakes and ended his year with a success in the Qatar Derby. He was based in Qatar for the rest of his racing career, making his last appearance in 2015.

Margarula is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In her first eleven races she showed herself to be a tough and consistent stayer, winning three handicap races, but appeared to be some way below top class. On her twelfth start however, she produced a major upset when she defeated a field of highly regarded fillies to win the Irish Oaks at odds of 33/1. Margarula finished sixth in her two subsequent races and was retired at the end of the season. She had some success as a broodmare, producing the Sydney Cup winner Grand Marshal.

Opale was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Unraced as a juvenile she won her first three races as a three-year-old in 1983 and later finished second in the Princess Royal Stakes. In the following year, she was placed in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes and won the Meld Stakes before recording her biggest success in the Irish St. Leger. On her final appearance, she was disqualified after finishing first in the Premio Roma. After her retirement from racing, she became a broodmare and produced several minor winners. Her last recorded foal was born in 1992.

Septimus was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which was frequently interrupted by injury he won eight of his thirteen races between September 2005 and November 2008. He showed very promising form as a juvenile, winning the Beresford Stakes and finishing third when favourite the Racing Post Trophy and went on to win the Dante Stakes by eight lengths in an abbreviated three-year-old campaign. At four he won the Mooresbridge Stakes and was then stepped up in distance to take the Lonsdale Cup and the Doncaster Cup. In his final season he won the Curragh Cup and the Irish St. Leger, taking the latter event by thirteen lengths. He was rated the best horse in the world over extended distances in both 2007 and 2008. He was retired to stud but had fertility problems and died on 12 December 2010 after complications resulting from a gelding operation.

Voleuse de Coeurs is an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. A specialist stayer who was favoured by soft ground she won five of her seventeen races in a track career which lasted from September 2011 until May 2014. She failed to win as a two-year-old but made steady improvement when tried over long distance in the following year, winning three races including the two-mile Irish Cesarewitch. She continued to improve as a four-year-old, winning the Vintage Crop Stakes and recording her biggest win in the Irish St. Leger. She was then sold to race in Australia where she failed to win in four races.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capri (horse)</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Capri is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2016 he won three of his five races including the Canford Cliffs Stakes and the Beresford Stakes as well as finishing third in the Critérium de Saint-Cloud. In the following year he was beaten in his first two races and finished sixth in The Derby before emerging as one of the best colts of his generation in Europe with wins in the Irish Derby and the St Leger. He won the Alleged Stakes on his four-year-old debut but failed to win in eleven subsequent starts and was retired from racing at the end of 2019.

Sergeant Cecil was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. Sold very cheaply as a foal, he was a slow-maturing stayer who showed unremarkable form in his first four seasons and took fourteen attempts to win his first race. As a six-year-old in 2005 he made rapid improvement and completed a unique treble in handicap races when he won the Northumberland Plate, Ebor Handicap and Cesarewitch Handicap. In the following year he made a successful transition to weight-for-age races, taking the Lonsdale Cup, Doncaster Cup and Prix du Cadran. He was never as good again, but recorded a final major victory in the 2007 Yorkshire Cup. He was an example of a "hold up" horse who typically dropped to the back of the field before coming with a late charge in the closing stages.

San Sebastian was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who excelled over extended distances. Originally trained in Ireland he showed modest ability in his early career but improved steadily and recorded his first big win as a four-year-old when he took the Ascot Stakes. He returned to Ascot a year later to win the Queen Alexandra Stakes and was transferred to England at the end of the year. As a six-year-old he recorded his most prestigious win when he took the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at Longchamp Racecourse. He failed to win in 2001 and was then moved to France where he won over hurdles in Autumn. He shifted base for a final time when he was exported to New Zealand, where he won three steeplechases. Apart from his twelve victories the gelding was placed in several high-class races including the Prix Royal Oak, Goodwood Cup, Sagaro Stakes, Saval Beg Stakes and New Zealand Grand National. San Sebsatian died in his paddock in New Zealand at the age of 11 in December 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twilight Payment</span> Irish Thoroughbred racehorse

Twilight Payment is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2020 Melbourne Cup. Bred and originally trained by Jim Bolger he did not race until he was three years old but showed promising form over extended distances as he won two races including the Listed Loughbrown Stakes in his first season. He ran consistently as a four-year-old without winning a race and was gelded at the end of the year, but in 2018 he took his second Listed prize as he won Her Majesty's Plate. In 2019 he won the Saval Beg Stakes and the Curragh Cup before moving to the stable of Joseph Patrick O'Brien. As a seven-year-old in 2020 he took the Vintage Crop Stakes and a second Curragh Cup before being sent to Australia and winning the Melbourne Cup on 3 November and produced a new career peak Timeform rating of 121.

Sonnyboyliston is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse. He made no impact as a two-year-old and was gelded before returning in 2020 to win three handicap races. He improved to become a top-class stayer as a four-year-old in 2021, winning the Martin Molony Stakes, Ebor Handicap and Irish St Leger.

References

  1. 1 2 "Royal Diamond pedigree". Equineline.
  2. "Photograph of Royal Diamond at Ascot". WBY Horse Racing Photography.
  3. "Goffs Million Yearling Sale". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 16 August 2017.
  4. "King's Best – Stud Record". Racing Post.
  5. "Irresistible Jewel – Race Record & Form". Racing Post.
  6. 1 2 "Paraffin – Family 1-l". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  7. "Drivers Jonas Won't Wait Furlong Handicap result". Racing Post. 29 July 2009.
  8. "Tattersalls Autumn Horses-in-Training 2009". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 16 August 2017.
  9. "Leopardstown Leap on Facebook Handicap result". Racing Post. 15 April 2012.
  10. "Irish St. Leger result". Racing Post. 15 September 2012.
  11. "Challenge Stakes result". Racing Post. 18 July 2013.
  12. "Irish St. Leger Trial Stakes result". Racing Post. 24 August 2013.
  13. "Royal Diamond produces St Leger Trial shock at the Curragh". Sky Sports . 24 August 2013.
  14. "British Champions Long Distance Cup result". Racing Post. 19 October 2013.
  15. Tom Park (19 October 2013). "Ascot Royal Diamond reigns supreme for Murtagh". Racing Post . Archived from the original on 16 August 2017.