Royal Academy dies, aged 25

Cherished racehorse and stallion Royal Academy died yesterday 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. Coolmore’s Tom Magnier said: “Royal Academy has been a tremendous servant to Coolmore... 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.”