FROM STUD AND STABLE Few ‘Hazlett’ winners more impressive than Royal Estate

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34029, 18 December 1975, Page 8

FROM STUD AND STABLE Few ‘Hazlett’ winners more impressive than Royal Estate

Royal Estate, like many home-bred stallions, languished for opportunities at stud, but his death in North Canterbury last week has revived memories of some brilliant victories by this son of Castle Donnington in the 19605.

Raced by Mrs H. G. McLeod, now of Christchurch, and formerly of Otago. Royal Estate was not an easy subject to keep at pitch, but when he came to his form he produced performances of real star quality. He struck one of his purple patches 11 years ago—in time to capture a notable double at the Dunedin Cup meeting at Wingatui. In what was then known as the James Hazlett Gold Cup, the predecessor of the James Hazlett Stakes, Royal Estate almost ran away and hid from a field that included the big winners Palisade, Royal Bid. and Llanmai. His winning margin was five lengths, and he came home looking as if he could I e doubled that margin. When it came to the Dunedin Cup on the second day of the meeting Royal Estate showed that winning form was the best form, winning this time by a length and

.a quarter from Royal Bid. .Fourth in that race was Mr eW. E. Hazlett’s Eiffel Tower, [ which was to win the Invercargill Gold Cup at his next ) start, then went on to Trenitham to carry off the Wellington Cup at surprisingly "long odds. ’ Royal Estate’s form slumped after his Dunedin Cup victory as a five-year-J old, but in the autumn of ’the following season he came ’back as good as ever. After ’a victory at Oamaru he came on to Riccarton to win the 'George Adams Handicap—--1 Palisade was the unplaced favourite—by two lengths, khen the Great Autumn Handicap. 1 ’ Akbar"s relation ; Mr McLeod bred Royal ■ Estate from his beautifullyIbred Foxbridge mare Corona Fo.:, a half-sister to the top • sta;. Akbar. r Unfortunately Corona Fox (missed to eight matings, but i three years before she died 'in 1970. she left the capable I middle-distance runner Foxy,

a winner in Australia as well as in New Zealand for Mrs McLeod. Corona Fox also left Straga Fox, a son of My Pal with brilliant speed, but a horse with a checkered career because of unsoundness.

Royal Estate was trained for his racing by A. N. Didham, who is without a runner in the James Hazlett Stakes but who would have reasonable hopes of winning the race if he had one as good as his 1964 winner in action at present. If there is any class in this year’s field, it is not class" in depth, and bears hardly any relation to the quality of performers the

Hazlett attracted in the days when it was a weight-for-age contest and when the then Dunedin Jockey Club held greater prestige on the national scene.

Limerick Nightmarch, Defaulter, Kindergarten, and Golden Souvenir have won the race from Riccarton stables. They were performers of the highest class, and the fact that Kindergarten’s powers were declining by the time he won only tended to underlie his true greatness when younger. There was never a more remarkable Otago winner of the race than Great Sensation, winner of three Wellington Cups at an age when many horses less carefully handled are burnt out. And Excellency has an undisputed claim as Southland’s most famous name on the honours list.