September 4th, 2007

STALLIONS continues our series of profiles on horses beginning stud duties this spring.

Among them is Holy Roman Emperor.

Holy Roman Emperor was called up for stud duties for Coolmore after Timeform's Horse of the Year George Washington had some fertility issues.  A statement from Coolmore on the afternoon on March 10 said:
"In the very early stages of George Washington's stud career, his fertility has been questioned. Coolmore, brought in veterinary expert Dr. Dickson Varner from the U.S.A .to consult on the matter and are awaiting prognosis.

"George Washington has been suspended from covering and Holy Roman Emperor, another dual group I winning two-year-old by Danehill and Ballydoyle's leading Two Thousand Guineas prospect, has been retired to take his place."

Coolmore's Christy Grassick added: "We are fortunate to have a horse of Holy Roman Emperor's calibre to take over in order to facilitate our clients with mares booked to George Washington."

O'Brien said: "The lads and the boss (John Magnier) had to try and replace him. We were shell-shocked about it here because Holy Roman Emperor was our best horse.

"He was the horse we were looking forward to for the Guineas and the St James's Palace. Paul Shanahan was here at 11:30 a.m. and the box came and picked him up at 11:50 a.m. I spoke to the boss in between and the more I tried to persuade him not to retire him, the more he was convinced he had to retire him."

Holy Roman Emperor won two Group One races, the Phoenix Stakes and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. His greatest rival was Teofilo, to whom he finished runner-up twice, firstly in the National Stakes, and later in the Dewhurst 
Stakes.  Holy Roman Emperor also won the Group Two Railway Stakes over six furlongs (1200 metres) in a dominant manner, at only his third start.

Holy Roman Emperor has a superb female line with his dam, L'On Vite, having seen more of the world than most broodmares. She started her breeding career in America before she headed to Australia where she was mated with 
Danehill on several occasions, producing Milanova a winner of three races including the Group 3 SAJC Tokyo City Cup and Group I placed in the WATC Kingston Town Stakes and the SAJC Australasian Oaks. She has also produced Big Viking (by Theatrical) a Japanese Group 3 winner and the multiple Listed winner, Heart of Oak (by Woodman).

L'On Vite is out of Canada's Horse of the Year, Fanfreluche (by Northern Dancer) and in a remarkable coincidence, she has produced a daughter, Grande Luxe, after a mating with Sir Ivor that has roots back to last seasons leading sires quinella, Flying Spur and Encosta de Lago. The family features many champions including Canada's Horse of the Year, L'Enjoleur (by Buckpasser), Canada's Champion 2YO, Medaille D'Or (by Secretariat) and Canada's Champion 3YO Filly, Mare and Sprinter La Voyageuse (by Tentam).

Holy Roman Emperor stands his freshman year at Coolmore Stud at Jerry's Plains where his fee has been set at $44,000 (inc gst).