Breeders' Cup Mile winner passes away

Cherished racehorse and stallion Royal Academy died today at the age of 25.

One of the last links to both English Triple Crown hero Nijinsky and his late trainer Vincent O’Brien, Royal Academy is best remembered for winning the 1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

He was ridden that day by Lester Piggott, who had only just been released from a stint in prison.

Royal Academy also won the July Cup and died of old age at Coolmore Australia, where he spent the last part of his life.

“It’s very sad,” said Coolmore’s Tom Magnier.

“Royal Academy has been a tremendous servant to Coolmore, wherever he’s been based. He spent the last five years of his life here, the last two years in retirement.

“He has been wonderfully prolific, siring more than 160 Stakes winners and his progeny earnings are the equivalent of more than US 120,000,000.

“He sired major winners over a wide range of distances, at all ages.

“I suspect, though, that his greatest legacy is the speed he passed on to the best of his Australian descendants – the brilliant Black Caviar is by one of his sons while champion sire-elect Fastnet Rock is out of one of his daughters.”