A RIGHT ROYAL START

Astronomer Royal. Immaculately bred, brilliantly performed – underestimated!

Astronomer Royal has well and truly slipped under the radar of most breeders which, in itself, is fairly baffling.

After all, he is a Classic winning son of Danzig – the last one in fact – and hails from a stakes winner daughter of Easy Goer. His first crop of yearlings have sold up to $260,000 which, off an opening fee of $16,500, is a fair indication of the type he’s putting forward.

He has produced a highly impressive stakes winner in France this year in the shape of Table Ronde and, from his first Australian crop, is represented (among others) by the David Hayes trained Gourmet Night … a winner at his only start at two.

That said, no-one expected he would be remembered as a sire of 2YOs. Sure, he won at two, was a Group winner over 1200m and, produced one of his best runs when fourth in the Group One July Cup.

But he was better over a mile, winning the French Guineas, running third in the St James’ Palace Stakes and fourth in the Jean Prat … all at Group One level. Meanwhile, his half brother, Navesink River won his Group Two over 2400m, as did their close relation, Vicar, winner of the Florida Derby.

So, hence the lack of fanfare with Astronomer Royal’s nifty 3YO colt, Gravitational who led all the way to win last week for the Danny O’Brien stable … a win which now has Astronomer Royal (below) sitting equal fourth on the Australian Second Season Sires’ chart by winners.

Expect to see quite a few more Gravitationals and Gourmet Nights in the coming weeks.