Royal Gem was so good in the 1940s he ended the mighty Bernborough's run of 15 straight in the 1946 Caulfield Cup

Royal Gem was a brown stallion by the good racehorse and sire, Dhoti (GB) from French Gem, (a winner of five races in Melbourne including the 1938 VRC Oaks). French Gem was the dam of 5 stakes-winners which had 23 stakes-wins. Her other stakes-winners were, Solar Gem by Helios (GB), won PARC Sires Produce Stakes. Regal Gem by Dhoti, won SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes. Beau Gem by Helios, won Victoria Derby, Underwood Stakes (twice), St. Leger Stakes, VRC Turnbull Stakes and exported to America.

Royal Gem was inbred to Son-in-Law in the third generation of his pedigree (3x3). As a young juvenile during 1944-1945 season he achieved five wins including the Ascot Vale Stakes (2yo) over six furlongs.

At three Royal Gem was at his very best, claiming eight wins, including the 1945 VATC Caulfield Guineas, eight furlongs, in a dead heat with Attley, 1945 Cantala Stakes, eight furlongs, 1945 Linlithgow Stakes, eight furlongs (defeating Attley and Tranquil Star), 1946 Adelaide City Handicap (carrying 9 st. 8 lb [61 kg]), 1946 SAJC Sir Willoughby Norrie Stakes (wfa) 10 furlongs (dead heat with Brazen Jester) and the 1946 SAJC Goodwood Handicap, six furlongs.

At four-years, Royal Gem would prove victorious in the 1946 Caulfield Cup over 12 furlongs (2400m) and the 1946 VATC Toorak Handicap 8 furlongs. Royal Gem’s biggest win was the 1946 Caulfield Cup with nine stone (57 kg). However, this win was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the defeat of the champion Bernborough who had won his previous 15 races and then conceded 11 kg to Royal Gem, to finish fifth in this race. It was reported that Royal Gem's owner, George W. Badman, won £30,000 by backing his horse to win the race. Royal Gem won. but Bernborough's fifth, after, having been pocketed and "knocked front pillar to post.” is still a fervent racing topic. Bernborough won 26 races—15 consecutively—but Royal Gem's 20 wins included only five consecutively.

At five-years of age during the 1947-1948 season, Royal Gem recorded five wins including the, 1948 Adelaide City Handicap with 10 stone 5 lbs, the 1948 VRC Newmarket Handicap, six furlongs (1200m) carrying nine stone nine pounds, and the 1948 Futurity Stakes over seven furlongs (1400m) with 10 stone 2 pounds. The fact Royal Gem won the Futurity Stakes over seven furlongs (1400m) and Newmarket Handicap over six furlongs (1200m) after his Caulfield Cup 12 furlongs (2400m) win proved his versatility. At six-year the entire only clamied one win in the 1948 MRC Underwood Stakes over eight furlongs. Royal Gem carrying 11 stone (70 kg) was also second to Chatter Lad, 7 st 12 lbs (50 kg), in the SAJC Warradale Handicap.

Often asked to carry big weights by the handicappers, he had raced for five seasons starting 51 times for 23 wins, 8 seconds and 5 thirds for £27,630 in prize money.

Following his six-year-old season Royal Gem was purchased by interests from the United States for £30,000 and brought to stand at stud at Warner Jones, Jr.'s Hermitage Farm in Kentucky. He arrived in such good condition, many of the syndicate wanted to continue his racing career. Royal Gem had had a continual stream of visitors, and none was more impressed with him than the famous U.S. jockeys, Johnny Longden, who has ridden more than 3,000 winners, and Eddie Arcaro. Arcaro tried vainly to induce Jones to place him in work, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

There, he sired the winners of over a thousand races including the 1953 Kentucky Derby winner Dark Star who in turn sired Hidden Treasure, the 1961 Canadian Horse of the Year. Royal Gem's son, Royal Bay Gem (b. 1950), was a winner of five stakes races in 1953 including the Everglades Stakes and Jersey Stakes for $224,495. Royal Bay Gem also ran third the Preakness and Belmont Stakes after finishing fourth to Dark Star in the Kentucky Derby.

Other Royal Gem progeny includes, Precious Stone won $110,861; Royal Spirit, won in Canada the Duchess Stakes (twice), E.P.Taylor Stakes and Summer Stakes. Its Ann won in Canada the Highlander Stakes and Rose’s Gem won $230,964. The Royal Gem Handicap for three-year-olds run over 1000 metres at Caulfield is named in honour of Royal Gem.

RACE RECORD - 51: 23-8-5

EARNINGS - £27,630

Ascot Vale Stakes (1945)

Caulfield Guineas (1945)

Cantala Stakes (1945)

Linlithgow Stakes (1945)

Caulfield Cup (1946)

Goodwood Handicap (1946)

Toorak Handicap (1946)

City of Adelaide Stakes (1946, 1948)

Futurity Stakes (1948)

Newmarket Handicap (1948)

Underwood Stakes (1948)