Linamix given a lifeline courtesy of Brametot's breakthrough

Even when Linamix was retired from stud duty back in 2007, there was the growing sad realisation that his sire line was not on the firm footing once anticipated by his keenest supporters.

By that stage, a number of sons such as Fair Mix, Fragrant Mix and Sagamix were already marketed as jumps sires, a sphere where today Linamix blood is held in even greater regard through the subsequent achievements of Martaline, Carlotamix, Al Namix and Lord Du Sud.

Throughout, Darley’s Slickly has remained a steady influence on the Flat, a stallion capable of reaching Group 1 heights as illustrated by Meandre. But he has never appealed as a sire of sires in waiting and indeed his clutch of inexpensive sons at stud are unsurprisingly marketed towards the French jumps sector.