Ali-Royal

ALI-ROYAL, winner of the 1997 Sussex Stakes for Henry Cecil, has been put down after developing laminitis.  The son of Royal Academy had been due to return to Coolmore Stud in Tipperary after standing in Australia for the southern-hemisphere season.

A spokesman for Coolmore said: "Ali-Royal has been put down due to the onset of severe laminitis. He has not been standing at Coolmore Australia, but at Lynden Park Stud. He had been treated at the Randwick Equine Clinic, which is where he was put down."

Ali-Royal, out of Ireland's 1997 broodmare of the year Alidiva, had just turned seven and his first crop of two-year-olds is due to run this year.

Bred in Ireland by Charles Wacker III, Ali-Royal won seven of his 16 outings for Cecil, peaking with his victory under Pat Eddery-by three-quarters of a length-from Starborough in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.

Ali-Royal was born at Coolmore's County Tipperary base in Ireland, and retired there for the 1998 season at a fee of Ir6,000gns, following his sire's transfer to Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Kentucky.

Laminitis usually occurs in horses that eat too much grass, especially when the grass is growing rapidly. It interrupts the supply of blood to the feet, especially the sensitive laminae, and can eventually result in the pedal-bone poking through the sole of the foot. There is no treatment, only prevention.   Ali-Royal covered 122 mares at his Coolmore base in 1998, producing 78 foals.

In 1999, he covered 96 mares, with 52 foals born last year. He covered 68 mares last year in what proved to be his final season in Europe.