Paul Mellon owned and bred the great Mill Reef

Mill Reef

Mill Reef is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever middle distance horses.

Owned and bred by American Paul Mellon, he arrived at Kingsclere as a yearling in 1969.

As a two-year-old, he won five races from six starts, including the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Gimcrack Stakes at York and the Group One Dewhurst Stakes.

It was a phenomenol juvenile season but proved only a taste of what was to come.

After being beaten by legendary miler Brigadier Gerard in the 2,000 Guineas in 1971, Mill Reef got back on the winning trail by winning the Derby at Epsom.

Having taken the blue riband event for three year olds, the colt then moved on to dominate the older horses.

He won the Eclipse, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and was the top European horse of that year.

Mill Reef's six straight Group One wins

Derby, Epsom June 1971 Eclipse, Sandown July 1971 King George, Ascot July 1971 Prix Ganay, Longchamp Apr 1972 Arc, Longchamp Oct 1971 Coronation Cup, Epsom June 1972

He then returned to action as a four-year-old, adding two further Group One successess, the Prix Ganay and the Coronation Cup.

A fractured foreleg during training in August, 1972, brought his racing life to a sudden end but he went on to a successful career at stud, his offspring including the famous Derby winner and subsequent sire, Shirley Heights.

Mill Reef was put down at the age of 18 in 1986 on account of a deteriorating heart condition.

Lochsong

Lochsong was notoriously difficult to train but after an unpromising start turned into a star sprinter.

Balding received the horse from owner and breeder Jeff Smith as a three-year-old, with the goal being to win a race, however small.

Lochsong: Took time to find her right distance

She managed a win in a maiden at Redcar and another in an apprentices' race at Newbury but it was in 1992 as a four-year-old that she really blossomed.

A victory at York was followed by a unique treble - the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood, the Portland at Doncaster and the Ayr Gold Cup.

More was to follow - in 1993, she followed up victories at Sandown and Goodwood with the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York and then romped home in the Prix de l'Abbaye to earn the title of European sprint champion.

She retained that title the following year along with her Prix de l'Abbaye crown and three other Group wins, including the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Selkirk

The versatile Selkirk was the the champion miler in both 1995 and 1996.

He won his first race, a Listed event at Sandown, at odds of 20-1.

His biggest win came in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

But he also had victories in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket and the Celebration Mile at Glorious Goodwood.

Since retiring to stud, he has become of Europe's leading sires.

So far, his offspring has included a 1,000 Guineas winner (Wince) and several Group One winners, including Squeak and Sulk.