Expert Eye aiming to put himself back in the Classic picture with a good performance at Newbury
Sir Michael Stoute's son of Acclamation looked a high-class colt in the making before his Dewhurst Stakes flop and makes his return to the track in the Greenham Stakes.
EXPERT EYE has the opportunity to put himself back into contention for the Qipco 2000 Guineas with a good showing in the Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday.
Sir Michael Stoute looked to have a classy colt on his hands after the son of Acclamation won the Vintage Stakes stylishly, but the youngster failed to back that up in the Dewhurst next time out, finishing last.
He therefore begins his three-year-old campaign with plenty of questions in regard to his claims in Group 1 company.
"We had huge expectations going into the Dewhurst and there was no getting away from it, it was very disappointing,"; said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah.
"That having been said, I hope we've got on top of his issues. Sir Michael has worked hard and the horse himself is in very good shape.
"It's an important race for him to get back on track, we know he has the talent - it's a question of channelling that correctly."
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Stoute's old ally Ryan Moore is on board instead of Andrea Atzeni, who rode Expert Eye last year, even in the knowledge Moore is unlikely to be available to ride in the Qipco 2000 Guineas on May 5.
"Ryan is riding, but come the Guineas he may be in a different country as it clashes with the Kentucky Derby. If he performs well I don't think there will be a shortage of people wanting to ride him," said Grimthorpe.
James Garfield, last seen running at the Breeders' Cup, won the Mill Reef at Newbury last season as a breakthrough winner for George Scott and cannot be underestimated.
"This race has been the plan since the Breeders' Cup and I'm very much looking forward to getting him started," said Scott.
"He has form at the track, obviously, having broken the track record over six furlongs for two-year-olds when he won the Mill Reef.
"I'm very happy with my horse and this is a trial that will hopefully answer a lot of questions.
"I would have preferred it if the ground had dried out a bit more, but he does have some very good form with cut in the ground, so I'm fairly relaxed about it, to be honest."
Templegate's treble
NAP 2.40 Ayr - Demon D'Aunou: 'Looks well weighted and will appreciate the better ground'
NEXT BEST 7.45 Bath - Prominna: 'Has a good record at this track'
TREBLE 3.15 Ayr - Darius Des Bois: 'He'll end up being better than this grade'
James Tate's Hey Gaman proved himself to be Group-class last season, just being touched off in the Champagne Stakes.
"This has been his target since last year and it looks like we're going to get some give in the ground, which he will appreciate," said Tate.
"He's flying at home. He weighs 560 kilos - he's a huge horse - and I have little doubt that he's improved from two to three.
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"He obviously likes the track and the conditions should suit, so we're expecting a big run.
"If you were looking for a negative I would say he'll probably be better when he steps up to a mile and while he's ready to run, this is trial and not the big day and I think he will improve.
"We feel he's better on a flatter track, so we'll probably be targeting either the French or Irish Guineas after Saturday."
Harry Dunlop's Fighting Irish and Clive Cox's Connect are also part of the eight-runner field.