'We'll look back and say how bloody lucky we were to have him'

It's sales week in Newmarket and that brings all sorts into town, from the man with the shovel to the man with the gavel and, at William Haggas's yard this morning, various connections of the 'second greatest racehorse in the world'.

By which I certainly don't mean Sheikha Hissa and her racing manager Angus Gold (although he's here as well), but part of the entourage of Flightline, who would be the best racehorse in the world if it weren't for the remarkable creature who lives here at Somerville Lodge – who is so remarkable that he's probably earwigging the conversation and checking the dates on his iPad.

At risk of betraying confidences, the chat concerns a match race between Baaeed and the American upstart, perhaps in the Middle East, for a purse of a million pounds, as suggested by the US contingent. "Why not ten million?!" goads Haggas, entering into the spirit of the challenge. Everybody laughs, although it's probably as well that Mr Gold is out of earshot.