Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Val Royal was a French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who competed successfully in France and the United States. Best known for winning the 2001 Breeders'' Cup Mile, he was bred and raced by Jean-Luc Lagardere. Val Royal''s dam was Vadlava, a daughter of the 1981 French Derby winner, Bikala.His sire, Royal Academy, won the 1990 Breeders'' Cup Mile. Val Royal made his racing debut at Longchamp Racecourse with a win on October 25, 1998. His only start at two, he began his three-year-old campaign in 1999 with another win in a Listed race at Chantilly Racecourse on May 3 then on May 20 won his first try in a Conditions race, capturing the 1,800 metres (1 miles) Prix de Guiche at Longchamp.