ROYAL SPIRIT

By: Jennifer Morrison | February 11, 2026

Graded stakes-placed ROYAL SPIRIT, a son of the world’s leading stallion Into Mischief, has been retired and will enter stud at Colebrook Farms in Uxbridge, Ontario. His fee will be $4,000 (live foal, stands and nurses).

Originally a $450,000 yearling purchase by Repole Stable in 2020, Royal Spirit showed plenty of talent at the outset of his career. In just his second start as a two-year-old, the flashy bay was second in the $500,000 Nownownow Stakes at one mile on the grass at Monmouth Park. He broke his maiden at Gulfstream Park in his fourth career start, a 7 1/2 furlong turf event where he was always in a stalking position.

Early in his three-year-old campaign, Royal Spirit was beaten just a head in the Grade 3 Kitten’s Joy Stakes by eventual $2 million earner and Grade 2 winner Grand Sonata. He was also a troubled fifth in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on Tapeta at Turfway Park, in which that year’s eventual Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike finished third.

Royal Spirit won races at Saratoga and Belmont and ran well at distances from 7 1/2 furlongs to 1 3/8 miles. He finished in the top three in 14 of 33 races and earned over $395,000.

“He’s absolutely beautiful, correct and balanced with great scope and length of leg,” said Arika Everatt Meeuse, who has brought the horse to Ontario for owner Rob Marzilli. “He brings so much opportunity to Ontario breeders with turf ability himself, a great female family, and his offspring should take to all surfaces.”

Bred by Claiborne Farms, Royal Spirit boasts a female family brimming with graded stakes winners. He is a half-brother to Grade 2 Suburban Stakes winner Crupi, who earned over $1.2 million, and once finished second to that stablemate in a tough allowance race at Saratoga. Royal Spirit’s dam, Don’tforgetme, by Malibu Moon, had a yearling filly by Candy Ride (Arg) sell for $750,000 at the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Don’tforgetme is from the mare Caroni, who has produced Black Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) winner Red Ruby, Lecomte Stakes (G3) winner Mo Town, and two other stakes winners.

His sire, Into Mischief, has led the North American General Sire List for eight straight years and is the sire of top stallions Practical Joke, Omaha Beach, Goldencents, and Authentic, among others.

“Royal Spirit offers excellent value for the quality, allowing breeds to keep mares in Ontario.”