You could boast the title of Champion Australian Sire on 8 occasions, champion French Sire twice, champion Japan Sire (AEI) once, champion GB/Irish Sire of 2YOs 4 times, champion Australian Sire of 2YOs 6 times, champion French Sire of 2YOs once ... or you could rely on genetics and hope that the simple fact of you being a full brother to the horse in question will get you across the line with broodmare owners.

Alas it was only Danehill - and not his brothers - who could serve up statistics as impressive as the ones detailed above.

Do any of you remember when the G2 winning Eagle Eyed retired to stud at Coolmore in 1996? He sired, gee, not much of note. Coolmore pocketed many multiples of his stud fee (AUD10,000) from those who dared to hope but alas the old adage "you get what you pay for" (albeit on this occasion you were actually paying way too much to start with) came to pass and the stallion was so noteworthy he ended up being banished to Turkey ... enough said. The other to lull broodmare owners into a false sense of security (at least at a more realistic price) was the G3 placed Anziyan who retired to stud in 1999. The horse stood for USD5,000 at Creston Farms in California for a few years before being relocated to Windfall Farm in the same State where he now stands for USD1,500. Of note, Anziyan notched his first southern hemisphere stakes-winner when the 4yo Ring Of Fire (Anziyan-Setchell, by Westminster) won the $50,000 NZ Bloodstock St Leger (Listed) (2500m) for 3YOs & 4YOs at Trentham last weekend.

It's a useful lesson - not least in the weird science of genetics, but also in PR. If you're related to fame you'll still get your name in the news!