VAL ROYAL (FR) (by Royal Academy (USA)), world champion miler and fastest ever winner of Gr. 1 Breeders' Cup Mile. Won 7 of his 12 starts (5 wins at Group level) – winning distances at 2 years and over 8f – 10f. Proven sire of Group winners and performers internationally, including: classic winner COCKNEY REBEL (IRE) (Gr.1 2000 Guineas, Gr.1. Irish 2000 Guineas); Gr.2 and Gr.3 winning filly VALBENNY (IRE), also dual Gr.1 placed (American Oaks Invitational Stakes, Del Mar Oaks) and Australian Gr.3 winner MIDNIGHT MUSTANG (AUS). Also sire of Listed winner EHOR (AUS), and Stakes performers Penthouse Serenade (IRE), Aaim To Prosper (IRE), Valmiera (AUS), Vitznau (IRE) and Miss Josiey Wales (GB).
FACTICE (USA) (Known Fact (USA)), won one of her two starts over 5f as a 2 year old. Dam of 5 winners: COCKNEY REBEL (IRE), MEJHAR (IRE), FESTINA FAMOSA (IRE), CAP D'AIL (IRE) and FACTICE ROYAL (IRE).
2nd Dam
WACKY PRINCESS (USA) (Miswaki (USA)), won 4 races at 3 & 4 years in USA including Red Wing Handicap (Canterbury Down). Dam of 6 winners including the stakes-winning Gr.3 placed PLAY WAKI FOR ME (USA).
Pedigree Notes 2011/ 2012
NORTHERN DANCER offers a strong starting point, particular as it creates line-breeding to Almahmoud. Cockney Rebel has already sired two winners to DANZIG line mares. GREEN DESERT line mares look well positioned as not only is Desert Sun the dam-sire to Cockney Rebel’s Rebellious Guest, but also the Australian Champion Black Caviar, who is a grand-son of Royal Academy, is also bred on the cross. DANEHILL line mares will suit Cockney Rebel as the Royal Academy/Danehill cross has produced three stakes winners to date.
The Nijinsky/SADLER’S WELLS cross has produced 12 stakes winners including two Gr 2 winners. Mares by In The Wings, Singspiel, Galileo, Barathea and Montjeu and Beat Hollow will all suit Cockney Rebel. NUREYEV, a close relative to Sadler’s Wells, is also a proven cross for Nijinsky line stallions; therefore it is not surprising that Cockney Rebel has already sired Cockney Dancer out of a Rudimentary daughter, which also creates line-breeding to Tamerett.
STORM BIRD line mares will really suit Cockney Rebel particularly as Storm Bird and Nijinsky are genetic relatives. With Royal Academy and Storm Cat being from the same family, mares by Giant’s Causeway and his sons, Shamardal and Footstepsinthesand, will create line-breeding to Crimson Saint, a cross that has produced stakes winners. Storm Cat’s genetic relative, Mujadil, is also worth considering particularly as he is the dam-sire to a dual Cockney Rebel winner.
LYPHARD has also proved to solid source of success for the Royal Academy line stakes winners. Linamix is the dam sire to two stakes winners which not only includes the Gr 1 winner Naugthly Rafaela but also Val Royal’s Love Queen (L). Mares by Alzao, Dancing Brave and Manila are all other examples of this branch. The TRY MY BEST line is certainly worth using via the likes of Last Tycoon, Marju, Royal Applause and his son Acclamation.
Cockney Rebel holds a line of MR PROSPECTOR in his pedigree so breeding back to this line could prove successful particularly as Royal Academy has sired plenty of stakes winners on the cross. Daughters from the Machiavellian line will create line breeding to Almahmoud, while Gone West mares create duplication Tamerett. Cockney Rebel has already sired a winner out of a mare by Woodborough, a son of Woodman.
Another branch of the Raise A Native sire-line that will create line-breeding to Tamerett is SHARPEN UP’s sons Kris and Diesis. Other Sharpen Up line sires, such as Sharpo have also crossed well with the Nijinsky line. Selkirk has sired 10 stakes winners, including a Gr 1 winner, to Nijinsky mares so it is well worth trying him as a dam-sire.
The BLUSHING GROOM branch of the NASRULLAH sire line has a proven record with Nijinsky. The Dewhurst Stakes (Gr 1) winner, Tout Seul, a grandson of Royal Academy, was out of a Groom Dancer mare, while Val Royal’s recent Gr 2 winner Dona Letra is also bred on the cross. Daughters from Rainbow Quest, Rahy and Nashwan strains will work nicely with Cockney Rebel. The NEVER BEND branch could also be considering, particularly as Royal Academy has sired stakes winners out of Shirley Heights, Doyoun and Darshaan daughters. GREY SOVEREIGN is another branch of the Nasrullah line that has a proven record with Royal Academy. Kendor is the dam-sire to a Royal Academy Gr 1 winner, while a Kenmare line mare is dam of Val Royal’s Gr 3 winner Midnight Mustang; both Highest Honor and Verglas are well suited. Finally mares from the BOLD RULER branch could also be considered.
Val Royal sired his Gr 2 winner Valbenny out of an INDIAN RIDGE mare suggesting that daughters of Namid, Compton Place and Sleeping Indian, who is out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, will all suit nicely. The Royal Academy sire-line has also shown Gr 1 success with the ROBERTO line, so it is well worth trying mares via Red Ransom, Kris S, Dynaformer and Robellino.
By Clive Webb-Carter