Nothing normal about the remarkable stud career of Coolmore's kingpin

John Magnier loves to tell the story of how Coolmore Stud came to acquire the most significant horse that would ever graze its pastures.

Back in 1976, when Robert Sangster was transforming bloodstock values with his raids on the Keeneland July Selected Yearling Sales, he and his coterie visited Claiborne Farm in Kentucky to appraise their yearlings ahead of the imminent auction. Magnier was in the party, as was Billy McDonald, an irrepressible bloodstock agent who was fond of a glass.

As the Coolmore entourage closely inspected each yearling, McDonald took a different tack. He thrust a $100 bill into the hand of Claiborne’s yearling manager and simply asked him for his pick. McDonald was pointed towards a small, physically unappealing filly by Bold Reason, and duly made a note in his sales catalogue.