By Tom Frary
Sir Michael Stoute had surprisingly only won this prestigious affair once in his career, but in Expert Eye he has one to make up for the barren years with Juddmonte looking to have another potential star on their hands after the homebred tore apart this competitive-looking renewal. Off the mark readily on debut over 6 1/2 furlongs at Newbury June 15, the bay who was sent off the strongly-supported favourite was reined back to avoid the initial charge for the lead and settled perfectly in sixth with nothing blocking his outer. As Godolphin's smart yardstick Zaman began to fend off the pace pressure with the straight looming, Andrea Atzeni could not hold Expert Eye and he moved with menace out wide to tank to the front with a quarter mile remaining. Shaken up soon after, the homebred drew away with relish without the whip to register a truly authoritative defeat of Zaman and the laboured Mildenberger.
Connections were suitably impressed. “He was very good. I spoke to Ryan [Moore] before the race and he thought he'd take all the beating and he was right,” Atzeni said. “He settled nicely, but approaching three out we'd gone slow and he took off so I ended up getting there way too soon. I wasn't hard on him and when I picked him up he galloped out really well. I don't think I've sat on many two-year-olds like this.” Stoute, whose prior success had come in 2001 with the classy No Excuse Needed (GB), added, “I was very taken with him first time out as well and he's an exciting horse, but I don't know where he'll go next. He's a very mature, strong colt and he'll certainly get a mile. Ryan has ridden him a lot since Newbury and has been impressed with him. I was hoping to win and he did it easy, he's an interesting horse.” The bookies were quick to slash his odds for the 2000 Guineas and although his trainer was typically keen to play down his Classic prospects, he could not hide his enthusiasm. “It's too early to talk about the Guineas, it's only the beginning of August in his two-year-old season but he does tick a lot of boxes as he's a well-balanced, well-made horse with a good mind and a lot of pace,” he added. “We'll go step-by-step and I won't be putting him up to a mile yet. We'll get him home and think about it and see how he is, but I'd prefer not to carry a penalty. I am excited–he's brimful of promise, put it that way.”
Zaman gives a line to the form of Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who he trailed in fourth in the G2 Superlative S. last time, as well as the two French black-type winners Unfortunately (Ire) (Society Rock {Ire}) and Izzy Bizu (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) who he beat previously and trainer Charlie Appleby was happy with his effort in first-time blinkers. “I'm very pleased, but obviously the winner was very impressive,” he commented. “For me he's stepped up again and the headgear lit him up a bit there. Before the race I'd have taken second quite happily. I think the winner is a potentially nice horse. We might look at something in the autumn as he's been busy, maybe the [Sept. 15 Listed] Flying Scotsman S. or the [Sept. 16 G2] Champagne [S. both at Doncaster].”
Expert Eye is a grandson of Quest to Peak, a full-sister to the dual GI Beldame S. and GI Ogden Phipps H. heroine Sightseek, one of the finest in the list of Juddmonte-Bobby Frankel success stories who also captured the GI Ruffian H., GI Go for Wand H. and GI Humana Distaff H. Also a half to the GI Yellow Ribbon S. and GI Gamely Breeders' Cup H. winner Tates Creek (Rahy), she produced Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy) who earned the title of European champion 2-year-old filly with victories in the G1 Cheveley Park S. and G2 Prix Robert Papin before occupying the unique position of finishing second before being promoted to first in both the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches. The MSW and GSP third dam Viviana is a half-sister to the GII Tidal H. scorer and GI Santa Barbara H. third Revasser (Riverman) who later produced the sire Dance Dreamer, and also the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Hempstead H. runner-up Hometown Queen (Pleasant Colony) who was herself responsible for the GII Meadowlands Breeders' Cup-winning sire Bowman's Band. This high-class family is also enhanced by Viviana's full-sister Willstar producing Etoile Montante (Miswaki) who took the G1 Prix de la Foret, GII Palomar Breeders' Cup H. and GIII Las Cienegas H. Exemplify, who won one of her four races for Criquette Head-Maarek, also has a yearling filly by Kingman (GB) and a colt foal by Dark Angel (Ire).
Tuesday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR VINTAGE S.-G2, £200,000, GOO, 8-1, 2yo, 7fT, 1:26.97, gd.
1–EXPERT EYE (GB), 127, c, 2, by Acclamation (GB)
1st Dam: Exemplify (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Quest to Peak, by Distant View
3rd Dam: Viviana, by Nureyev
*1st stakes win.
O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute; J-Andrea Atzeni. £113,420. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $155,041. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Zaman (GB), 127, c, 2, Dutch Art (GB)–Wake Up Call (GB), by Noverre. (77,000gns Wlg '15 TATFOA; 75,000gns RNA Ylg '16 TATOCT; 160,000gns 2yo '17 TATBRE). O-Godolphin; B-Laundry Cottage Stud Farm (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £43,000.
3–Mildenberger (GB), 127, c, 2, Teofilo (Ire)–Belle Josephine (GB), by Dubawi (Ire). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (GB); T-Mark Johnston. £21,520.
Margins: 4HF, 3/4, HD. Odds: 1.75, 8.00, 3.50.
Also Ran: James Garfield (Ire), Seahenge, Curiosity (Ire), Roland Rocks (Ire), Finsbury Park (GB), Cold Stare (Ire), Sallab (Ire). Scratched: Watheer (GB). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
