FORM is temporary, class is permanent.’ This saying rings true for sports of all kinds, whether referring to individuals involved or entire teams. It’s particularly true for horse racing, because as well as trainers, jockeys and owners experiencing peaks and troughs in form, so too does the breeding side.

Fashionable stallions come and go, but the truly great stand the test of time. Then there’s the broodmares - talent can skip generations, but certain bloodlines hold such class that champions will emerge time and time again, just at varying regularity.