Royal Academy: Don't Put it Past Him

Last weekends results at Hastings and Flemington highlighted the influence Royal Academy (Nijinsky - Crimson Saint by Crimson Satan) continues to exert in black-type races despite being retired from stallion service in 2009.

At Hastings, he came within a nose of claiming a unique double as a broodmare stallion when Nashville (Darci Brahma - Royal Kiss by Royal Academy) was touched out on the line in the 2000m Group 1 Turks Spring Classic. Two hours earlier at the same venue, Sir Andrew (Sir Percy - Biennale by Royal Academy)won the semi-classic 1400m Group 2 Hawkes Bay Guineas.

The same afternoon his four-year-old daughter Molto Bene (Royal Academy - Benevolent by Generous)produced an outstanding last 200m to land the 1410m Listed Headquarters Stakes at Flemington. A beaten favourite in last seasons Group 1 MRC 1000 Guineas, Molto Bene is one of eight live foals from her sire's final crop.

Rightly or wrongly sire sons of Nijinsky were often criticised as being slightly coarse on type and there was corresponding opinions that the great racehorse, despite a successful stallion career, was largely unable to transmit his own speed and verve through his sons and grandsons. An outstanding physical type, Royal Academy flew directly in the face of such perceptions with an ability to transmit the same speed and class he displayed when winning the July Cup and Breeders Cup Mile into his stock.

As the damsire of the champion stallion Fastnet Rock and having his son Bel Esprit sire the immortal Black Caviar, Royal Academy's greatness in these parts is forever assured, however if there is ever a stallion capable of leaving a further legacy despite reducing representation, it is the unique Royal Academy.