As a yearling in October 2013 he was offered for sale at Tattersalls and bought for 625,000 guineas by John Ferguson Bloodstock, acting on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin organisation.
[4] He was the first foal[5] of Annabelle's Charm, who showed some ability as a racehorse, winning three of her fourteen races between 2008 and 2010[6] and was a granddaughter of Flamenco Wave, a lightly-raced but high-class performer who won the Moyglare Stud Stakes in 1988.
[8] Nineteen days later Charming Thought was made the odds-on favourite against three opponents when he was ridden by Adam Kirby in a minor race over six furlongs at Leicester Racecourse.
[9] On 17 October Charming Thought was moved up sharply in class and started a 22/1 outsider for the Group One Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse.
Muhaarar set the pace before giving way to Ivawood approaching the final furlong at which point Charming Thought, who had been restrained by William Buick in the early stages, was switched to the right to make his challenge.
[12] A succession of injury problems, starting with a "chip in the knee"[13] kept Charming Thought off the track in 2015 The colt returned as a four-year-old in the Listed Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury Racecourse on 12 June 2016.