Breeders` Cup hero Val Royal retired Last year`s Breeders` Cup Mile winner Val Royal has run his last race after the six-year-old experienced a recurrence of tendon trouble.Trainer, Julio Canani, today confirmed that the former French runner has been retired from competition after running fifth in the Dubai Duty Free on March 23rd, after which, the latest injury problem to affect the talented if fragile Val Royal eventually surfaced.A Group Two and Three winner for Andre Fabre before his sale to the United States, Val Royal was no stranger to the treatment table and spent an 18-month period on the sidelines due to tendon problems.It clearly did not impair the son of Royal Academy`s ability as he came back to land the Oak Tree Breeders` Cup Mile followed by the Breeders` Cup Mile.Canani said: 'It didn`t seem right to take any chances with a horse of this quality. The plan was always to retire him at the end of the season in any case.'
