By Tom Frary
Royal Meeting is a son of the G1 Alan Robertson Fillies' Championship-winning champion 2-year-old filly Rock Opera (SAf) (Lecture) and therefore a half-sister to Heavy Metal (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), winner of the 2012 G2 Richmond S. and this year's G2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 1 and G2 Godolphin Mile, $1,790,704. Sent off the 2-1 favourite, he was slowly away but unhurried in rear throughout the early stages. Creeping closer passing halfway, the homebred was cajoled by Alrajaa (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the last 50 yards to score by a half length. The dam is a full-sister to the G2 P. G. Bison Nursery winner Hit Song (SAf) (Lecture) and the Allan Robertson Fillies Championship third Rock Concert (SAf), with the latter being responsible for Van Halen (SAf) (Oratorio {Ire}) who captured the G1 Gold Medallion. Also connected to the G1 Cape Flying Championship hero Gulf Storm (SAf) (Sail From Seattle), she has a yearling colt by Shamardal.
2nd-Great Yarmouth, £7,400, Mdn, 9-19, 2yo, 7f 3yT, 1:26.08, g/f.
ROYAL MEETING (IRE) (c, 2, Invincible Spirit {Ire}–Rock Opera {SAf} {Ch. 2-y-o Filly-SAf, G1SW-SAf & SP-UAE, $115,777}, by Lecture) Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $6,293. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor.
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