All different and great in their own way: 21 iconic horses of the 21st century

What makes an icon isn't something that can be quantified. There is no scale, no measure, no point beyond which a horse transcends the realm of 'a bloody good one' into iconic status, adored by the sport and, for the rare equine deities, beloved beyond its borders.

Underdogs can be icons, losers can be icons, mavericks can be icons. The status isn't solely the preserve of champions, but neither does that preclude giants of the turf.

Our 21 iconic horses of the 21st century has all of the above. There would be civil unrest were Kauto Star or Frankel omitted, but who could deny Roy Rocket, bona fide Brighton legend, or hurdling enigma Harchibald their rightful spots on the list? Overdose would struggle for a double digit ranking in a list of 'best' racehorses, but the Budapest Bullet's story of Eastern European domination – his triumphant tour of the west ultimately foiled by a faulty starting stall – captured the imagination far more than countless Group 1 winners, fleeting stars whose names quickly fade from memory.