French Group 1 winner Royal Meeting has been retired and will stand at stud in Australia.
Royal Meeting has been purchased from Godolphin by a group of breeders including Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and will stand at Aquis Farm in Victoria at a fee of A$10,000 plus gst.
A son of Invincible Spirit, Royal Meeting won the Gr1 Criterium International over 1400m at Chantilly at his second start defeating subsequent Classic winner Hermosa.
From two starts in Australia last spring Royal Meeting finished third to Streets Of Avalon in the Gr3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
New Aquis CEO Tony Williams described Royal Meeting in a statement as “the real deal”
“From my time in Europe, I saw firsthand the influence of Invincible Spirit and his emergence as a dominant source of speed through his sons,” Williams said.
“There are similarities between French racing and ours here in Australia and pinpointed Royal Meeting as a horse that we needed for our Victorian stallion roster.
“I know that a precocious French 2YO, such as this, is ideally suited to the Australian conditions and broodmares, but also delivers an extra quality and depth of pedigree, bringing a wonderful Gr.1 outcross to the Victorian broodmare bands.”