Royal Delta (USA)
February 2, 2008 – February 2017
Empire Maker (USA) x Delta Princess (USA), by A.P. Indy (USA)
Family 20-a
February 2, 2008 – February 2017
Empire Maker (USA) x Delta Princess (USA), by A.P. Indy (USA)
Family 20-a
A big, strong mare, Royal Delta was unable to defeat top males in two attempts (both in the Dubai World Cup, UAE-G1) but dominated her own gender's standings in the United States for three consecutive years. Sadly, she was not to enjoy a long broodmare career and left behind only one surviving foal.
Race record
22 starts, 12 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$4,811,126
2011:
2012:
2013:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the 2011 World's Best Racehorse Rankings for her performance in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (USA-G1), 13 pounds below top-rated filly or mare Black Caviar (an unbeaten superstar in Australia) but tops among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
Rated at 121 pounds on the 2012 World's Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Beldame Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, 9 pounds below top-rated filly or mare Black Caviar but tied with American champion female sprinter Groupie Doll for best among older females on dirt.
Rated at 119 pounds on the 2013 World's Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Personal Ensign Invitational Handicap and Delaware Handicap, 11 pounds below top-rated fillies and mares Black Caviar and Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1) winner Treve but best among older females on dirt.
As an individual
A lengthy dark bay or brown mare standing 16.2 hands, Royal Delta was “a big, gorgeous, strong filly with an attitude like a colt,” in the words of trainer Bill Mott. Durable and sound, she was aggressive and dominant in disposition. She generally preferred to stalk the pace but had the speed to go to the front if necessary. She had a long stride.
As a producer
Royal Delta died of foaling complications from producing her only living foal, a 2017 filly by the great European sire Galileo. Named Delta's Royalty, the filly broke her maiden at Kempton, England, on December 5, 2019.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Royal Delta was bred and owned by Palides Investments N.V., Inc., the nom de course of Prince Saud bin Khaled. In 2011, she was consigned to the Keeneland November mixed sale as part of the dispersal of her late owner's bloodstock and was purchased by Benjamin Leon's Besilu Stable for US$8.5 million. She was trained throughout her career by Bill Mott.
Pedigree notes
Royal Delta is inbred 4x4 to the multiple Classic winner and epochal sire Northern Dancer and 5x5 to 1966 American Horse of the Year Buckpasser. She is a half sister to 2014 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Crown Queen (by Smart Strike) and to 2019 Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Delta Prince (by Street Cry). She is also a half sister to Grade 1-placed Carnival Court (by Street Sense), dam of listed stakes winner Carnival Colors (by Distorted Humor).
Royal Delta's dam Delta Princess is a multiple Grade 3 winner and a full sister to 2003 Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Indy Five Hundred, dam of juvenile stakes winner Albert Park (by Street Sense). She is also a half sister to 2010 Gran Criterium (ITY-G1) winner Biondetti (by A.P. Indy's champion son Bernardini).
Lyphard's Princess, in turn, is out of 1993 Vodafone Nassau Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Lyphard's Delta, by Lyphard out of multiple Grade 1 winner Proud Delta. A full sister to Grade 3 winner Proud Debonair, Lyphard's Delta is also a half sister to Fatal Charm (by Sham), dam of Italian stakes winner Fairy Charm (by Fairy King) and second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Il Fenomeno.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2011 Keeneland November mixed sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: May 17, 2024
Race record
22 starts, 12 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, US$4,811,126
2011:
- Won Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (USA-G1, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won TVG Alabama Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Beldame Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
2012:
- Won Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Beldame Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Delaware Handicap (USA-G2, 10FD, Delaware)
- Won Fleur de Lis Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Personal Ensign Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Sabin Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
2013:
- Won Personal Ensign Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Delaware Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Delaware)
- Won Sabin Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Beldame Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Fleur de Lis Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted 2019)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old filly (2011)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older female (2012, 2013)
Assessments
Rated at 119 pounds on the 2011 World's Best Racehorse Rankings for her performance in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (USA-G1), 13 pounds below top-rated filly or mare Black Caviar (an unbeaten superstar in Australia) but tops among 3-year-old fillies on dirt.
Rated at 121 pounds on the 2012 World's Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Beldame Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, 9 pounds below top-rated filly or mare Black Caviar but tied with American champion female sprinter Groupie Doll for best among older females on dirt.
Rated at 119 pounds on the 2013 World's Best Racehorse Rankings for her performances in the Personal Ensign Invitational Handicap and Delaware Handicap, 11 pounds below top-rated fillies and mares Black Caviar and Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (FR-G1) winner Treve but best among older females on dirt.
As an individual
A lengthy dark bay or brown mare standing 16.2 hands, Royal Delta was “a big, gorgeous, strong filly with an attitude like a colt,” in the words of trainer Bill Mott. Durable and sound, she was aggressive and dominant in disposition. She generally preferred to stalk the pace but had the speed to go to the front if necessary. She had a long stride.
As a producer
Royal Delta died of foaling complications from producing her only living foal, a 2017 filly by the great European sire Galileo. Named Delta's Royalty, the filly broke her maiden at Kempton, England, on December 5, 2019.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Royal Delta was bred and owned by Palides Investments N.V., Inc., the nom de course of Prince Saud bin Khaled. In 2011, she was consigned to the Keeneland November mixed sale as part of the dispersal of her late owner's bloodstock and was purchased by Benjamin Leon's Besilu Stable for US$8.5 million. She was trained throughout her career by Bill Mott.
Pedigree notes
Royal Delta is inbred 4x4 to the multiple Classic winner and epochal sire Northern Dancer and 5x5 to 1966 American Horse of the Year Buckpasser. She is a half sister to 2014 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (USA-G1) winner Crown Queen (by Smart Strike) and to 2019 Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (USA-G1) winner Delta Prince (by Street Cry). She is also a half sister to Grade 1-placed Carnival Court (by Street Sense), dam of listed stakes winner Carnival Colors (by Distorted Humor).
Royal Delta's dam Delta Princess is a multiple Grade 3 winner and a full sister to 2003 Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G1) winner Indy Five Hundred, dam of juvenile stakes winner Albert Park (by Street Sense). She is also a half sister to 2010 Gran Criterium (ITY-G1) winner Biondetti (by A.P. Indy's champion son Bernardini).
Lyphard's Princess, in turn, is out of 1993 Vodafone Nassau Stakes (ENG-G2) winner Lyphard's Delta, by Lyphard out of multiple Grade 1 winner Proud Delta. A full sister to Grade 3 winner Proud Debonair, Lyphard's Delta is also a half sister to Fatal Charm (by Sham), dam of Italian stakes winner Fairy Charm (by Fairy King) and second dam of Italian Group 3 winner Il Fenomeno.
Fun facts
- Royal Delta represented the third generation of her family trained by National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, as he had also trained her dam Delta Princess and (for a brief time) her granddam, Lyphard's Delta.
- At the time of her sale, Royal Delta was the third most expensive broodmare or broodmare prospect ever sold at Keeneland November.
- The Royal Delta Stakes is a Grade 3 race for older fillies and mares at Gulfstream Park. It is contested over 8½ furlongs on the dirt.
Photo credit
Photo taken by Jessica Morgan at the 2011 Keeneland November mixed sale. Used by permission.
Last updated: May 17, 2024