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French-bred Right Royal, winner of the French 2000 Guineas, the French Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, was the near ancestor of three Grand National winners. Son Rangong, a staying stakes winner, became a leading sire in New Zealand, and his New Zealand-bred grandson, Lord Gyllene, returned to Great Britain to win the National by 25 lengths. Right Royal's breeder, Elisabeth CouturiČ of Le Mesnil, told thoroughbred historian Peter Willett that "All the Le Mesnil horses can jump if you want them to;" six of twenty-seven broodmares in the stud in 1971 had won over fences, although the stud farm was devoted exclusively to breeding classic flat racehorses. |
