Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Expert Eye has been retired from racing to stand at Juddmonte’s Banstead Manor Stud for the 2019 breeding season, with his introductory fee set at £20,000.
The son of Acclamation delivered his biggest victory at last week’s Breeders’ Cup championship at Churchill Downs, when he was delivered with a perfectly-timed challenge by Frankie Dettori to win the Mile by half a length from Catapult.
Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, Expert Eye announced his promise as a juvenile when an eye-catching four and a half length winner of the Group 2 Qatar Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.
While he disappointed in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at the end of last season, he returned to form in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes and the Group 2 City Of York Stakes earlier this year before crossing to America to secure the valuable Grade 1 prize.
Stud Director Simon Mockridge said: “We are delighted to announce the arrival of Expert Eye to Juddmonte Farms. He is the first British-trained winner of the Breeders’ Cup Mile since 1994, further strengthening one of the most exciting young stallion rosters in Europe.
“Expert Eye is a fourth generation Juddmonte homebred whose pedigree boasts the presence of champion two-year-old filly in Europe and dual Classic winner Special Duty and seven-time Group 1 winner Sightseek.
“He is by Acclamation, a consistent and prolific source of fast horses and the sire of leading stallion Dark Angel.
“We would like to extend special thanks to Sir Michael Stoute and the teams at Freemason Lodge and Beech Hurst Stables for guiding and developing the career of Expert Eye with such skill.”
Outstanding miler Kingman has made an excellent start with his first crop of runners this year, headed by the unbeaten Calyx, who struck at Royal Ascot in June in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes. With five stakes winners to his name, Kingman will stand for £75,000 in 2019 – up from £55,000 this year.
The fees of Oasis Dream and Bated Breath remain unchanged for 2019, with the pair set to stand at £30,000 and £10,000 respectively.
Frankel, responsible for the top-level winners Cracksman, Mozu Ascot, Without Parole and Call The Wind, will stand his second consecutive season at a fee of £175,000.
