'When you succeed you really feel like you've achieved something'

The historic Haras du Mesnil has already earned its place in French breeding folklore, and A Plus Tard's emphatic triumph in the Cheltenham Gold Cup will no doubt go down as one of the Sarthe stud's finest feats in what is already an extraordinary tale.

The stud's Antonia Devin is Irish-born and bred, having grown up on a stud in Kildare before she attended the Irish National Stud course after graduating from university.

It was there that she met future husband Henri, and after marrying their attentions soon turned to starting their own equine dynasty, one that has flourished through stallions such as the late Turgeon, current stalwart Doctor Dino and new recruit Telecaster.