Dark Ronald - Stud Record

Stud Record

Dark Ronald first stood at Tickford Park in 1910 at a stud fee of £98 a mare. His first crop included the great racehorse and sire Son-in-Law and Ambassador IV, who was later sent to the United States where he had a great influence on the American breeding industry. In his second crop, his get included Vaucluse. However, his foals were not promising, and when the German National Stud at Graditz offered the great sum of £25,000 for the stallion, his owner was happy to sell him. His final English crop, born after he was shipped overseas, included the great sire, Dark Legend, as well as Brown Prince II, and Magpie, a leading sire in Australia. Dark Ronald's English progeny won more than 70 races and £30,000.

Dark Ronald was sent to the German National stud in June 1913, having been purchased by Burkhard von Oettingen. The stud was interested not only in producing horses for the racetrack, but also for Warmblood breeding. In Germany, Dark Ronald produced the excellent horses Prunus, Herold, and Wallenstein. In 1928, he died at the German National Stud, at the age of 23.

Dark Ronald was the sire of:

• Son-in-Law: sired the racehorses, Beau Pere, Foxlaw, Trimdon, Lady Juror. Very notable in warmblood breeding, his progeny included Maureen, dam of the exceptional Furioso.
• Ambassador IV: winner of the July Stakes. In America, produced several horses who were successful two-year-olds, including Constancy and St. James (great-grandsire of Nashua and To Market).
• Brown Prince II: winner of the Cambridgeshire Stakes and Jockey Club Cup. Was exported to America, where he sired Brown Bud, sire of Cinquepace. Also seen in the pedigree of Secretariat and Sir Gaylord.
• Dark Legend: sire of Duplex (winner of the Prix du Jockey Club), Fairy Legend, Mary Legend, Dark Lantern II, Dark Japan, Galatea II, Easton, Legend of France, and Rosy Legend (dam of Dante and Sayajirao).
• Herold: two-time leader of the sire list. Produced Alchimist and Arjaman (both German Derby winners).
• Magpie: placed in the Two Thousand Guineas. Exported to Australia, where he became the leading sire in 1929.
• Popingaol: dam to Pogrom (winner of the Oaks), and Book Law (winner of the St. Leger)
• Prunus: winner of Germany's Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger, five-time leading sire in Germany. Sire of Oleander, who won 22 breeding championships.
• Vaucluse: winner of the One Thousand Guineas, dam of Bongrace (winner of Doncaster Cup)
• Wallenstein: number one on German sire list in 1930.