Royal Tattoo dies at 30

Press, 18 June 1982, Page 26 (Supplement)

Royal Tattoo dies at 30

Special. correspondent Dunedin Royal Tattoo, the dam of seven winners of 34 races, has died at the age of 30. Royal Tattoo has been buried on the Wingatui property of “Curly” Smart, who bred from the daughter of Royal Chief and Tattoo in partnership with Fred Anscombe, of Clyde. Royal Tattoo produced the winners, Queen Mellay, Aidershot, 'Tarcass, Royal Rejoicing, Bonny Clyde, Royal Kurdistan, and Rock Lover. Her other foals were Meldrum, Rush Cliffe, Lynwood Lad Tattoo's Last and a Rejoicing filly which died. A chestnut mare by,Royal Chief and the sole offspring of her dam. Tattoo (by Irish Lancer) Royal Tattoo provided her owners with their first win when she was successful at the Otago Hunt meeting in March, 1955. She was trained for that win by Hector Anderton sen., whose son, Hector, trained Royal Tattoo’s progeny, Queen Mellay, Aidershot and Bonny Clyde. Queen Mellay (by Mellay) won eight races including the 1971 Warstep Stakes at Riccarton and New Zealand Breweries Handicap on the same, course. Aldershot' (by Resurgent) won 11 races, including three amateur steeplechases in the winter of 1973. His sister, Bonny Clyde, won four times, as did Tarcass (by Cassock) and Royal Rejoicing (by Rejoicing). Queen Mellay, which was retired to stud after fracturing sesamoids as a five-year-old became the dam of Mellseur, the 'winner of 17 races including the Penfolds Mile at Trentham, George Adams Handicap at Riccarton, Thames Valley Stakes, South Island Thoroughbred Stakes (twice) and Aluminium Stakes at Ascot Park.

Mellseur amassed $100,620 in stakes. Mellseur was retired from racing at the start of the season and subsequently sold by Messrs Smart and Anscombe to a North Island syndicate thus ending their association with the family. Mellseur (by Causeur) failed to conceive to a mating with Noble Bijou last spring.

Bonny Clyde became the dam of Swell Gent, winner of the Otago and Bluff Steeplechases last season and was third to Byfnai and Reklaw in the Grand National Hurdles. Swell Gent injured a leg in training when taken to Australia 12 months ago and the eight-year-old is still convalescing. Tarcass left Ef Cee, winner of the Excellency Stakes at Gore in 1976. Royal Rejoicing has left Hiwinui, winner of the Otaio Plate at the last New Zealand Cup meeting, and Lebanon, a Westenra Cup winner at Riccarton. Royal Kurdistan and Meldrum, a sister of Queen Mellay, are other daughters of Royal Tattoo at stud.