Dark Ronald

Infobox last modified on 27 October 2009.

Dark Ronald (* 1905, † 1928) was a Thoroughbred horse. He was the sire to the thoroughbred breeding of the 20th century and was taken in Ireland by Bay Ronald from the Darkie.

Descent

Dark Ronald descends in direct sire line and in 10th generation of Eclipse. His father Ronald Bay played in 5 years racing a total of 26 races, of which he won five, including the famous Epsom Gold Cup ( now di Coronation Cup). As a stallion Bay Ronald was much more significant. During his time in England, he became the father next to Dark Ronald classic winner Macdonald and Bayardo. His qualities, however, were not visible until after he was sold to France. His daughter pulled there Rondeau is the mother of the outstanding thoroughbred and Warmblutvererbers Teddy. Teddy's thoroughbred stallion lines extend up into the 21st century. The same applies to Bay Ronald's son Bayardo, among other things, two English Triple Crown winner brought forth. Dark Ronald's mother Darkie was active only as successful little two year old on the race track.

Racing career

Dark Ronald was a very talented racehorse, but he had in his racing career a lot of injuries, so his race balance sheet does not reflect his enormous potential. After a first start and victory as a two year old, he was injured in his second race, he still finished second, so hard that he had to be burned on both front fetlock joints. Present sources, Dark Ronald said to have spent his period of convalescence on the South African farm of his owner Sir Alec Bailey. He did not return until the age of four back on the race track. In his comeback in Newbury Spring Cup he was not yet fit and finished for the only time in his career a race unplaziert. This was followed by three victories over various distances, including the Princess of Wales 's Stakes ( 2,414 m) until the Doncaster Cup ( 3,219 m) ​​was injured again and had to end his racing career. Overall, he won £ 8,239 on race prices. In addition, Sir Alec Bailey won in a bet on Dark Ronald's victory in the prestigious Royal Hunt Cup ( 1,560 m) Ascot over £ 100,000.

Breeding career

With a Height of 165 cm Dark Ronald was a very impressive horse, had no fault in the building and saw a total of magnificent. That made him interesting for warmblood breeding from the beginning. The German state equerry and famous hippologist Siegfried von Lehndorff was convinced from the beginning of Dark Ronald as a breeding stallion and also tried his father, the chief equerry Georg von Lehndorff, to inspire him. However, it declined to purchase repeatedly fails with the notice that he had already spent enough money for foreign stallions. Only Georg von Lehndorff's successor as Prussian Oberland equerry, Burchard von Oettingen finally agreed to purchase for the then enormous sum of £ 25,000 = 500,000 gold marks. Despite the very high price to Dark Ronald proved to be one of the best investments ever in the German horse breeding.

Before Dark Ronald So in June 1913, to Germany, he began his breeding career in 1910 in English Tickford Park Stud. His most important descendant of that time, was probably the tough stayer Son -in- Law, who should also be an excellent sire. His sire line ranges in Australia up to the present time. Also very good German horses are among the descendants of Son -in-Law, especially the first and only German winner in the Prix de l' Arc de Triomphe Star Appeal and his son Kameiros go in direct sire line on Son -in-Law back.

His first major descendant in Germany was the Schlenderhaner Prunus, who won the Henckel - race and the St. Leger, but in the German Derby only finished third and thus the Triple Crown just missed. For Schlenderhan Prunus had three Derby winner and the great oleanders. Also for Schlenderhan Dark Ronald brought forth a wide range of Wallenstein over 1200 m also won the gladiators race over 2800 meters beside the golden whip. As Schlenderhaner stallion Wallenstein sired two Derby winners, including Alba. Dark Ronald's best son but should be herald. Herold lost only one race, the Henckel race, and that too only because Herald's jockey was coasting his horse early in deceptive certainty of victory. Without this unnecessary defeat Herold would be assigned as the undefeated Triple Crown winner. Herold has produced three Derby winners, including alchemist who in turn should be an outstanding sire himself. Other excellent immediate descendants Dark Ronalds were Eckstein, Tulipan, Nubians, famulus, dreamers and Aditi. Dark Ronald's daughters were less successful. His best daughter was the Preis der Diana winner rapids.

A stallion stands at Thoroughbred by the fact that not only his immediate descendants but also those of future generations on the racetrack make an excellent figure. Exactly this property recorded Dark Ronald before all other stallions in Germany. Apart from the legendary Nereid and the Ticino Father Athanasius the most significant, drawn in Germany by Dark Ronald's arrival thoroughbreds of the 20th century are descended in some way from it. A stallion must also behave good-naturedly towards inbreeding. Dark Ronald also fulfilled this requirement. The wonder mare Black Gold was a 3x4 Dark Ronald inbred. Her father was the Dark Ronald grandson alchemist and her sire Dark Ronald -grandson of oleander. With 113.5 kg Black Gold reached the highest ever awarded in Germany GAG. The most important broodmare for Schlenderhan Aster (father oleander, mother - father Wallenstein ) is a 3x3 inbreeding to Dark Ronald. Paired with alchemist went from it stronger the 3x4x4 Dark Ronald inbreeding Aralia, which was very successful both on the racetrack and in the breeding. The Arc winner 1993 Urban Sea, the outstanding horse of 2009 Sea The Stars and the German Derby winner from 2007 Adlerflug all come in the direct female line of the Aster and her famous grandson Lombard also of the Aralia from.