I MAKE no apologies for returning to familiar territory with my star review of the week. At this year’s ITM Stallion Trail I recounted a meeting I had a Ballylinch Stud with Seamus ‘Shem’ and Terese Phelan of Weylands Stud. They were beaming after a three-year-old colt they bred, Al Haram (Iffraaj), had just won the Saudi Arabian’s 2000 Guineas.

Well, I say won – but I mean to say he had obliterated the field in the local classic, which served as a qualifier for the Saudi Derby. The Derby is a very different kettle of fish, carrying international Group 3 status, and worth a staggering $1.5 million.