'I was never meant to be a trainer - that's the great good fortune of my life'

One of the great careers in post-war European racing will come to an end in the next few weeks, a year later than planned but with a lifetime of success, memories and a huge international reputation thoroughly earned.

Alain de Royer-Dupre has been principal trainer to the Aga Khan for 38 years and has been responsible for a string of champions who instantly resonate with racing fans, both in the emerald green silks of the man he simply refers to as "the prince", as well as for a wider collection of mostly owner-breeders.

When Valia is loaded into the stalls at Longchamp's two-mile start on Sunday for the Prix Royal-Oak, she will become Royer-Dupre's final domestic Group 1 runner and, while in all likelihood it will be her last chance to add a top-level success to her CV, her trainer passed that particular landmark as far back as July 1983 when Masarika won the Prix Robert Papin under Yves Saint-Martin.