Grandsire Northern Dancer Country United States Breeder Tim Gentry Parents Nijinsky Sex Stallion Damsire Crimson Satan | Foaled 1987 Colour Bay Species Equus caballus Trainer Vincent O'Brien Earnings 724,167 USD | |
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Owner Classic Thoroughbred Plc | ||
Royal Academy (February 21, 1987 – 22 February 2012) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse bred in the United States best known as the winner of the 1990 Breeders' Cup Mile in which famed British jockey Lester Piggott came out of retirement to ride the colt to victory.
In 1991 Royal Academy was retired to stud at Coolmore Stud's American arm, Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky. Among others, he sired 2001 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Val Royal, Bullish Luck who in 2006 was voted Hong Kong Horse of the Year and has career earnings of $6,435,501, and Bel Esprit who is the sire of Black Caviar who was rated the best sprinter in the world in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. He sired a British Classic winner in the filly Sleepytime, who won the 1000 Guineas in 1997.
Royal Academy was retired from stud duty in 2010 and died of old age on 22 February 2012 at the Coolmore Stud in Australia.