Royal Orbit (USA)
April 25, 1956 – c. 1980
Royal Charger (GB) x Admirals Belle (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
Family 7-e
April 25, 1956 – c. 1980
Royal Charger (GB) x Admirals Belle (USA), by War Admiral (USA)
Family 7-e
Although the Preakness Stakes was his only major stakes victory, Royal Orbit was a consistent colt whose only time out of the money was when a closing fourth in the Kentucky Derby. Other than for the high-class gelding Quicken Tree and Brazilian champion older female Zoa, he was not a good sire, but his stud career was probably not helped by his having started in California with limited access to good mares and by repeated moves thereafter.
Race record
20 starts, 7 wins, 5 seconds, 7 thirds, US$239,640
1958:
1959:
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1958, 10 pounds below champion First Landing.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1959, 13 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Sword Dancer.
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse standing 16 hands, Royal Orbit had a well-sloped shoulder, a deep girth and wide hips. He stood hard work well and was a good doer. He reportedly bowed a tendon while in training for the Belmont Stakes and suffered a career-ending breakdown in the race itself.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Royal Orbit sired 155 winners (59.4%) and 10 stakes winners (3.8%) from 261 named foals.
Notable progeny
Quicken Tree (USA), Zoa (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky, Royal Orbit was bred by Louis B. Mayer. He was owned by Jacques “Jack” Braunstein, who purchased Royal Orbit for US$10,700 from the 1957 Keeneland summer yearling sale. Braunstein died in December 1958 and the colt raced in the spring preps of 1959 as the property of his estate. Royal Orbit raced through the Triple Crown series in the silks of Braunstein's widow Halina (née Gregory). He was trained by Reggie Cornell.
Royal Orbit entered stud at Conejo Ranch in California in 1960. After standing in California and then at the Maryland division of Windfields Farm, Royal Orbit stood in Ireland in 1972–1974 but got little patronage there. From Ireland he went to Argentina in 1974, standing that year's Southern Hemisphere season, and went to Brazil the following year.
Pedigree notes
Royal Orbit is inbred 5x5 to five-time English/Irish champion sire Polymelus and to 1911 English/Irish champion sire Sundridge. He is a half brother to Klondike Annie (by Arctic Prince), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Yukon Eric (by Tudor Minstrel) and third dam of 1987 Indian Oaks winner Slipstream; to Taratan (by Summer Tan), dam of Grade 3 winner The Messanger (by Big Spruce); and to Lady Bellaston (by Tudor Minstrel), third dam of Grade 2 winners Richman and Journalism. Royal Orbit is also a half brother to Corner Table (by Sword Dancer), dam of multiple stakes winner Fling Ding (by Jungle Savage; dam of four minor stakes winners) and third dam of two-time Peruvian champion turf male Zeide Isaac, and to Timalin (by Court Martial), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winners Raise Your Skirts and Coastal Voyage and third dam of multiple Group 3 winner and four-time German champion sire Big Shuffle and Grade/Group 3 winners Slender Style and Saratoga Gambler.
Royal Orbit's dam Admirals Belle failed to win in nine starts but is a half sister to 1949 Santa Margarita Handicap winner Lurline B. (by Alibhai), dam of 1957 Selima Stakes winner Guide Line (by Nasrullah), 1960 Sheridan Handicap winner Lurullah (by Nasrullah), 1961 Breeders' Futurity winner Roman Line (by Roman) and 1963 Louisiana Derby winner City Line (by Windy City II) and second dam of 1970 Chrysanthemum Handicap winner Ancient Line. She is also a half sister to 1949 East View Stakes winner Selector (by Thumbs Up), to minor stakes winner Irish Cousin (by Royal Charger) and to Alibelle (by Alibhai), dam of stakes winner Prince Eric (by Priam II). In addition, Admirals Belle is a half sister to Coral Bell (by Khaled), dam of two-time Sussex Turf Handicap winner Sea Castle (by Summer Tan), and to Belle Request (by Requested), second dam of 1969 San Marino Handicap winner Beau Legs.
Belle Cane, the dam of Admirals Belle and her siblings, won the 1940 New Zealand Oaks. Sired by Beau Pere from Duck's Egg, whose sire Absurd was a five-time champion sire in New Zealand, Belle Cane is a half sister to Love Set (by Captain Bunsby), second dam of 1947 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Cover Up, and to Tukumaitu (by Theio), third dam of 1976 Auckland Cup (NZ-G1) winner Perhaps.
Books and media
Royal Orbit is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: January 8, 2023
Race record
20 starts, 7 wins, 5 seconds, 7 thirds, US$239,640
1958:
- Won Los Feliz Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Del Mar Futurity (USA, 6FD, Del Mar)
1959:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Santa Anita Derby (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Yerba Buena Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Tanforan)
- 3rd Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- 3rd San Felipe Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd California Derby (USA, 9FD, Golden Gate)
- 3rd Peter Pan Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Derby Trial (first division) (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
Assessments
Rated at 118 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1958, 10 pounds below champion First Landing.
Rated at 119 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1959, 13 pounds below champion and Horse of the Year Sword Dancer.
As an individual
A handsome chestnut horse standing 16 hands, Royal Orbit had a well-sloped shoulder, a deep girth and wide hips. He stood hard work well and was a good doer. He reportedly bowed a tendon while in training for the Belmont Stakes and suffered a career-ending breakdown in the race itself.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Royal Orbit sired 155 winners (59.4%) and 10 stakes winners (3.8%) from 261 named foals.
Notable progeny
Quicken Tree (USA), Zoa (BRZ)
Connections
Foaled at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky, Royal Orbit was bred by Louis B. Mayer. He was owned by Jacques “Jack” Braunstein, who purchased Royal Orbit for US$10,700 from the 1957 Keeneland summer yearling sale. Braunstein died in December 1958 and the colt raced in the spring preps of 1959 as the property of his estate. Royal Orbit raced through the Triple Crown series in the silks of Braunstein's widow Halina (née Gregory). He was trained by Reggie Cornell.
Royal Orbit entered stud at Conejo Ranch in California in 1960. After standing in California and then at the Maryland division of Windfields Farm, Royal Orbit stood in Ireland in 1972–1974 but got little patronage there. From Ireland he went to Argentina in 1974, standing that year's Southern Hemisphere season, and went to Brazil the following year.
Pedigree notes
Royal Orbit is inbred 5x5 to five-time English/Irish champion sire Polymelus and to 1911 English/Irish champion sire Sundridge. He is a half brother to Klondike Annie (by Arctic Prince), dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Yukon Eric (by Tudor Minstrel) and third dam of 1987 Indian Oaks winner Slipstream; to Taratan (by Summer Tan), dam of Grade 3 winner The Messanger (by Big Spruce); and to Lady Bellaston (by Tudor Minstrel), third dam of Grade 2 winners Richman and Journalism. Royal Orbit is also a half brother to Corner Table (by Sword Dancer), dam of multiple stakes winner Fling Ding (by Jungle Savage; dam of four minor stakes winners) and third dam of two-time Peruvian champion turf male Zeide Isaac, and to Timalin (by Court Martial), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winners Raise Your Skirts and Coastal Voyage and third dam of multiple Group 3 winner and four-time German champion sire Big Shuffle and Grade/Group 3 winners Slender Style and Saratoga Gambler.
Royal Orbit's dam Admirals Belle failed to win in nine starts but is a half sister to 1949 Santa Margarita Handicap winner Lurline B. (by Alibhai), dam of 1957 Selima Stakes winner Guide Line (by Nasrullah), 1960 Sheridan Handicap winner Lurullah (by Nasrullah), 1961 Breeders' Futurity winner Roman Line (by Roman) and 1963 Louisiana Derby winner City Line (by Windy City II) and second dam of 1970 Chrysanthemum Handicap winner Ancient Line. She is also a half sister to 1949 East View Stakes winner Selector (by Thumbs Up), to minor stakes winner Irish Cousin (by Royal Charger) and to Alibelle (by Alibhai), dam of stakes winner Prince Eric (by Priam II). In addition, Admirals Belle is a half sister to Coral Bell (by Khaled), dam of two-time Sussex Turf Handicap winner Sea Castle (by Summer Tan), and to Belle Request (by Requested), second dam of 1969 San Marino Handicap winner Beau Legs.
Belle Cane, the dam of Admirals Belle and her siblings, won the 1940 New Zealand Oaks. Sired by Beau Pere from Duck's Egg, whose sire Absurd was a five-time champion sire in New Zealand, Belle Cane is a half sister to Love Set (by Captain Bunsby), second dam of 1947 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap winner Cover Up, and to Tukumaitu (by Theio), third dam of 1976 Auckland Cup (NZ-G1) winner Perhaps.
Books and media
Royal Orbit is profiled in Chapter 8 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Last updated: January 8, 2023