Expert Stoute Eyes a Classic

SIR MICHAEL STOUTE says Expert Eye is the ‘best twoyear-old I’ve trained for a while’ as he aims to cap a resurgent season with victory in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. Success for the unbeaten son of Acclamation and a first prize of almost £300,000 would lift Stoute above his career-best domestic prize money haul of £3.7million achieved in 2003 — the year Stoute landed his last two-year-old Group One with Red Bloom in the Fillies’ Mile. Expert Eye is 8-13 favourite for the Dewhurst with Paddy Power after he landed the Group Two Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood by four and a half lengths. Chasing him home that day were four subsequent winners, including Mill Reef Stakes scorer James Garfield and Champagne Stakes winner Seahenge, a possible Aidan O’Brien- trained rival on Saturday. ‘Before Expert Eye ran we knew he was pretty smart,’ said Stoute. ‘He is a goodlooking horse, very athletic and has been pretty natural from the beginning. It was a very good performance at Goodwood and the form has worked out. We didn’t know he would win like that but he could not have done it any easier.’ The option of running Khaled Abdullah-owned Expert Eye, who again will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, in the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh last month was shelved when the colt picked up an infection, but Stoute said: ‘We have had plenty of time to prepare him — there will be no excuses on that front.’ Paddy Power make Expert Eye 4-1 for the 2018 2,000 Guineas and to enter the winter with a Classic favourite in his stable would be a boost after a Flat season again dominated by O’Brien with his 23 Group One wins. Stoute has claimed both the Group One Eclipse and International Stakes with Ulysses though and said: ‘I don’t think we have ever had a battalion like Aidan’s before. If you can’t handle it, run away. It’s quite incredible really.’