'Would I be happy to come back as a racehorse? I'm not sure I would'

Emma Banks, agent to Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and many more musical megastars, spent a recent midweek evening in Sainsbury's, trying without success to find a tub of silver polish to touch up those parts of the fancy plate Lady Bowthorpe won and then enthusiastically licked.

The plate-licking occurred at the Newmarket yard of trainer William Jarvis the morning after Lady Bowthorpe gave herself and Banks a first Group 1 triumph in the Qatar Nassau Stakes. The victorious owner had spent sleepless nights either side of her trip to Goodwood, where the former handicapper confirmed herself a top-class performer, something Banks has long since been recognised as in the world of showbusiness.

"Silver and horse saliva are clearly not a match made in heaven because the plate did go a funny colour," says Banks, who currently has the prize tucked away in its box on her kitchen island. On a table by a bright orange sofa is a sales catalogue but there are no pictures on the wall to indicate within this London townhouse lives a lady who has enjoyed success in racing and even more as a senior figure in the Creative Artists Agency.