How a rare misstep by the Queen led to a famous Shadwell family - and Baaeed

There were many rewarding chapters in the Queen’s lengthy patronage of the Turf. There were many setbacks, too, although none as great as that which saw the sale of Height Of Fashion from the Royal Studs to Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in 1982.

Such a sale would have torn the heart from many a breeding operation. In Height Of Fashion’s case, however, it represented a loss from which the Royal Studs never really recovered.

In contrast, Sheikh Hamdan’s Shadwell Stud became an equine empire with Height Of Fashion as its bedrock. Evidence of that will be seen at Ascot next weekend when her great-great-great-grandson Baaeed puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Qipco Champion Stakes.