▁by ▁Jean - L uc ▁Lag ard ere . ▁His ▁dam ▁was ▁V ad lava , ▁a ▁daughter ▁of ▁ 1 9 8 1 ▁French ▁Derby ▁winner ▁B ik ala . ▁His ▁s ire , ▁Royal ▁Academy , ▁won ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁Bre ed ers ' ▁Cup ▁M ile . ▁ ▁Racing ▁career ▁ ▁France ▁Val ▁Royal ▁made ▁his ▁racing ▁debut ▁at ▁Long ch amp ▁Race course ▁with ▁a ▁win ▁on ▁October ▁ 2 5 , ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁This ▁was ▁his ▁only ▁start ▁at ▁two . ▁He ▁began ▁his ▁three - year - old ▁campaign ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 ▁with ▁a ▁win ▁in ▁a ▁List ed ▁race ▁at ▁Ch ant illy ▁Race course ▁on ▁May ▁ 3 , ▁then ▁on ▁May ▁ 2 0 ▁won ▁his ▁first ▁try ▁in ▁a ▁Cond itions ▁race , ▁capt uring ▁the ▁ 1 , 8 0 0 ▁metres ▁( 1 <0xE2> <0x85> <0x9B> ▁miles ) ▁Prix ▁de ▁Gu iche ▁at ▁Long ch amp . ▁Sent ▁to ▁England ▁for ▁that ▁country ' s ▁most ▁pr estig ious ▁race , ▁The ▁Derby ▁at ▁ 1 ½ ▁miles ▁on ▁soft ▁tur f , ▁Val ▁Royal ▁finished ▁ele vent h ▁in ▁a ▁field ▁of ▁six teen . ▁Back ▁in ▁France , ▁he ▁earned ▁a ▁runner - up ▁finish ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 , 8 0 0 ▁met re ▁Prix ▁D ap hn is , ▁then , ▁after ▁winning ▁the ▁ 2 , 0 0 0 ▁metres ▁( 1 ¼ ▁miles ) ▁Group