These days, an average price of 64,478gns would sound like a nightmare scenario for Book 2 vendors, but back in 2014, it marked a massive jump from what had come before – a 36% increase on the previous year, to be precise.

The median price made an even greater leap from 37,000gns to 50,000gns, and much of it was thanks to the spend of Shadwell, who left with 36 yearlings totalling 5,055,000gns. Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s operation remained clear leaders in the buyers’ table over the next five years, accumulating 214 yearlings worth over 36,000,000gns.