Frankel very nearly didn't 'happen'

We're all probably familiar with the foal share agreement between Juddmonte and Coolmore, but I didn't realise that Kind was one of ten mares originally due to visit Sadler's Wells. When he became ill, Juddmonte agreed to switch those ten mares to the best two stallions available, which at that time were Montjeu and Galileo. Phillip Mitchell is quoted as saying "If I'm honest, she would probably never have visited Galileo unless she was part of that package". When it comes to deciding who chooses the resultant foals of those mares, both Coolmore and Juddmonte independently grade the ten foals and on an alternate picks basis, select their five. That year, it was Juddmonte's turn to have first pick and chose the Galileo - Kind colt whom they had listed as their number one choice.

The rest, as they say, is history but we should be thankful that we didn't end up with another Bullet Train.........