Val Royal to stand in S. Africa

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Owner David Milch has sold Val Royal, winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, for stud duty in South Africa.

A partnership that includes Lionel Cohen and Newsells Park Stud owner Andreas Jacobs privately purchased Val Royal, a French-bred, 6-year-old Royal Academy horse, who will stand at Cohen's Odessa Stud in South Africa. Jacobs, who recently purchased the South African stud farm Maine Chance from Graham Beck, bought his interest in Val Royal in the farm's name.

South African bloodstock agent Robin Bruss brokered the deal, working with American-based agents Dennis Lynch and the Kern Lillingston Association.

Milch, who bought Val Royal privately as 3-year-old, said he has sold the horse outright and retains no interest in him.

"At the moment, he will stand in only one hemisphere, but it is possible that he will shuttle in the future," Lincoln Collins of Kern Lillingston said Tuesday.

Val Royal, who was based in California with trainer Julio Canani, arrived Tuesday at Monty Roberts's Flag Is Up Farm, where he will be held in quarantine before traveling to South Africa.

Val Royal, out of the Bikala mare Vadlava, is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Vadlawys and stakes winner Vadlamixa. Already a Group 2 winner in France when Milch bought him in 1999, Val Royal immediately rewarded his new owner with a victory in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby that year. Last year, he won the Grade 2 Oak Tree Breeders' Cup Mile Stakes before winning the Breeders' Cup Mile for his sole Grade 1 score. Val Royal retired in April because of a recurring tendon injury. He had a career record of 11-7-2-0 and earnings of $1,126,482.