BACK in the early 1980s, my late father had a mare at Swordlestown Stud named Make Plans (Go Marching) on behalf of American clients. It proved opportune that she was moved from the USA to Ireland where she foaled a filly that was never named, and was covered by Try My Best (Northern Dancer).

That June, at Royal Ascot, her son Sayf El Arab (Drone) caused an upset when he won the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes, trained in Newmarket by Bill O’Gorman. The colt was placed in the same race 12 months later.