The former top-class sprinter and Royal Studs stallion Royal Applause (GB) has died at the age of 29.
The veteran made an increasingly major imprint on the breed in recent years, with his son Acclamation (GB) producing a number of top-notchers, including Equiano (Fr), Marsha (Ire), Expert Eye (GB), Harbour Watch (Ire), Aclaim (Ire), Mehmas (Ire) and Dark Angel (Ire). The last two named are now both very successful stallions in their own right.
A son of Waajib (Ire), Royal Applause was a homebred of Maktoum Al Maktoum and he carried those famous silks with great distinction, notably when successful in the Cork and Orrey S. [now the Platinum Jubilee] and the Sprint Cup at Haydock.
He was also a blisteringly-fast two-year-old. Victory in the Coventry S. at Royal Ascot was followed by Gimcrack glory at York and that juvenile campaign was crowned with a brilliant win in the Middle Park S.
Having taken up stallion duties in 1998, where he replaced the retiring Derby winner Shirley Heights on the roster, Royal Applause proved an excellent servant to the Royal Studs before being retired in 2017.
Royal Applause is also the damsire of Blue Point (Ire), a leading sprinter himself and now Kildangan Stud sire, along with Adaay (Ire), Cappella Sansevero (GB) and Forest Of Dean (GB).
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