
Royal Ascot Stakes winner for Expert Eye
Two-year-old Snellen held off all challengers to take the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday.
Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 25th June 202, by Tom Frary:
Saturday's Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot was all about the fillies as the Gavin Cromwell-trained Snellen (Expert Eye) found the line just ahead of Pearls And Rubies.
Off the mark at Limerick 10 days earlier, having won her barrier trial beforehand, Lindsay Laroche's homebred was keen early tracking the leader of the stand's-side group but had plenty in reserve when committed by Gary Carroll approaching two out. Green and errant late as the 7-4 favourite Pearls And Rubies drove to the line many lengths wider out in the centre of the track, the 12-1 shot was there a head in advance of her Aidan O'Brien-trained compatriot. Golden Mind and Oddyssey fared best of the colts, finishing off strongly to be half a length away in a joint-third.
"The last half furlong was a very long half furlong for me - she was looking for company and started to lean a bit, but she's a very good filly," Carroll said. He added: "She is a little bit weak and was getting a little lonely when she started rolling. I tried to correct her in Limerick when she went like that and lost momentum. So I was going forwards and thought, 'keep going', and thankfully I hung on."
Cromwell added: "She has been nice from the word go and is progressing. I think she's going to improve as well."