Breeders' Cup Winner Val Royal Retired

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David Milch's Val Royal, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), has been retired because of a recurrence of a tendon injury. The injury was discovered after the son of Royal Academy ran fifth in the March 23 Dubai Duty Free (UAE-I).

"You don't want to take any chances with a horse like him," trainer Julio Canani told the Los Angeles Times. "He was going to be retired at the end of the year anyway."

In 1999, Val Royal suffered a tendon injury in his left foreleg. The problem was discovered after his victory in the Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) in his first start for Milch. French-bred Val Royal previously had run for his breeder, J.L. Lagardere.

Val Royal, who was produced from the Bikala mare Vadlava, retires with seven wins from a dozen starts and earnings of $1,186,687. He won two group events in France and his other U.S. added-money win came in the Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile Stakes (gr. IIT) in his final prep for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Breeding plans have not yet been decided.

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