By GEORGE DEARSLEY

It was 1985 and multi millionaire racehorse owner Robert Sangster had just paid a record $13.1m dollars for a yearling called Seattle Dancer.

Photographer Peter Wilcock and I were dispatched to the Curragh in Ireland to find out more and to do a colour piece.

We arrived at the apparently deserted race track after dark and hopes of getting an interview seemed slim. 100/1 you might say.

However, security was so lax we were able to enter the grounds unmolested and soon we came across some stables.

Incredibly, after stumbling around for 10 minutes, avoiding dollops of manure, we turned a corner and there was a horse’s head sticking out of an enclosure.

Our jaws dropped as we read the name on a nearby plate: Seattle Dancer.

After taking some pictures, we became aware of voices not far away and the clink of champagne flutes.

Following the sounds, we quickly found ourselves in the presence of Sangster and his lovely wife Susan.

They were indeed in high spirits, quaffing Bollinger and chatting with friends.

Boldly introducing ourselves, we were greeted with smiles, charm and politeness and all seemed set fair for a decent exclusive.

However, at that moment a rather uncouth individual entered the room, wearing stained, fawn corduroy trousers and a scruffy green gilet and soon had me in an arm lock.

“Yoos can fuck off now,” he barked.

“Who the hell are you?” I wailed.

It was, in fact, Sangster’s top trainer Vincent O’Brien.

The interview was peremptorily terminated.

21 May 2026