Balanchine (USA)

The stunning chestnut filly became Godolphin's first Classic winner when landing the Group 1 Epsom Oaks in 1994; the Storm Bird filly won her only two races as a juvenile, including when a facile 7l winner of a conditions race at Newbury; she failed by the minimum distance to land the 1,000 Guineas when just unable to reel in Las Meninas before landing the Epsom Classic by two-and-a-half-lengths; she took on the colts in the Group 1 Irish Derby at the Curragh - instead of the fillies in the Irish Oaks - and that bold decision paid dividends when she beat Derby runner-up King's Theatre in fine style, but did not run again that season due to colic; Balanchine returned to the track as a 4yo, but could not reach the lofty heights of the previous season and was retired in 1995