If you are good enough, you are old enough, so the well-worn sporting adage goes. And it is one that could have been written just for jockey Billy Loughnane.
The 20-year-old has been taking the flat racing scene by storm since making his debut in 2022 as a 16-year-old and his relentless pursuit of excellence ever since has brought the Irish-born adopted Midlander to the cusp of what would be his greatest achievement to date.
On Saturday, he rides favourite Bow Echo in the 2,000 Guineas and if the George Boughey-trained colt runs to form at Newmarket, Loughnane will claim his first Classic victory and become the youngest winner since Donnacha O'Brien triumphed on Saxon Warrior in 2018, aged 19.
"It's a bit surreal really. I never thought it would be happening this early on in my career and I'm really fortunate to be able to sit on him," Loughnane told BBC Midlands Today.
"It's great. It's quite hard to understand really. I'm very lucky. I've partnered some really nice horses and just looking ahead now to what the season can bring."