Foaled in 1905, Dark Ronald was purchased at the Doncaster sales as a yearling for 1,300 guineas, by breeder Sir Abe Bailey.

Both front tendons were fired, and he was rested for two years at Sir Bailey's farm in South Africa.

Following this, he had better success, winning the next three races in which he ran: the 10-furlong Durham Plate, the seven-furlong Royal Hunt Cup, and the 12-furlong Princess of Wales's Stakes.

However, his foals were not promising, and when the German National Stud at Graditz offered the great sum of £25,000 for the stallion, his owner was happy to sell him.

[2] Dark Ronald was sent to the German National stud in June 1913, having been purchased by Burkhard von Oettingen.