IN 1964 a colt named Bold Lad, foaled in the USA, was adjudged to be the best of his generation in his native land. He was rated 3lb better than his nearest rival, Sadair, and 7lb better than the third top-rated colt of that year, Native Charger.

The next two colts on the list were Royal Gunner and Tom Rolfe, so it is safe to say with hindsight that this was a vintage generation. Bold Lad’s weight of 130lb on the Experimental Free Handicap was a pound higher than that given to Secretariat eight years later.