Royal Delta retired
 

A great mare. Sorry to see her go.

Same here.. What a shame. Not too surprised I guess though really.

From the article, it sounds like Mott really wants to keep her going. Even nominated her to the Cigar Mile. How exciting would that have been?

On Byk's birthday no less. It just doesn't seem right.

Ben Leon steals the thunder from Steve on his big day.

Hall of Famer career

As soon as they turned for home in the Distaff you knew her career was likely over. The real shame of it is that Mott was interviewed before the race and was talking about the real possibility of a 2014 campaign.

Claire Novak just tweeted that Royal Delta is going to Galileo according to a release.

terrible decision

i'm surprised and grateful they ran her this year.

How so? It's an A nick. The cross hasn't produced a G1 winner, but they're two champions and I don't think Galileo's gotten many Unbridled-line mares. He's been leading UK/Ire sire for the last 3 years. How's it a bad idea?

He's all turf to me...whatever its one pairing. she'll have time to right the wrong

Ah, I had that thought about the turfiness as well. Maybe it's deliberate though. It's not like she didn't have it in her to throw that herself. Definite chance to get offspring that like turf and/or dirt from Royal Delta. I wonder if they're trying to play into her pedigree's turf influences and try to get another Frankel, or maybe they're trying to get a Galileo son who can handle dirt. I think the former's more likely, but if they got the latter, there'd be nothing like him in the US. Either would be worth a lot.

As long as her foal is talented, I'm not sure there's a woe is me to be had here.

'Coolmore's son of Sadler's Wells is a European champion and the most successful stallion currently standing in Europe.'


a good decision. americans aren't the only buyers with deep pockets.

:tro:

From my better half:

http://www.horseracingnation.com/blo...oyal_Delta_123

You think Ben Leon rates to sell the foal? He's spending millions annually on yearlings. Why would he sell this one?

Nice!

She was and is the complete package. Echoing Danzig, I'm grateful that we got to see her run this year.

Didn't he pay $8.5 million for her?

I don't really understand paying so much for a mare.

The only reasons I can think of that make any sense at all are that either he hopes he can sell her offspring for big $$$, or he's trying to build a broodmare band with the intent of being in the breeding business for a long, long time.

In the latter situation, I guess he'd try to breed to race with the hope of hitting the jackpot with a homebred star stallion.

i don't know his plans. i'd think he'd want to earn back some of the money he spent purchasing the mare.
even if he doesn't, she's still going to the best euro stallion. not sure why the decision is drawing any criticisms at all.
i know some people sell colts and keep fillies. his decision might also be made based on what she produces.