MANY of the participants on the Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Management Course in 1982 would likely prefer if I did not mention that they will, in 2022, celebrate four decades since their graduation.

However, if the group of candidates that year were horses, and their pedigrees and subsequent performances were compiled, you would be looking at a collection of Group 1 and classic winners. There are so many names from that year who have gone on to become industry leaders and influencers that it must rank as one of the most outstanding years in the 50-year history of the course.