The Wizard of Eye is planning to attend Royal Ascot following an impressive Victoria Cup display.
For the first time since moving yards and joining Charlie Fellowes' stable after leaving Stan Moore, the chestnut was running. He was also having a gelding procedure.
Before that, he had demonstrated a great deal of talent in past races, coming very close to winning the Group Three Prix Francois Boutin as a juvenile and placing second at Goodwood in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes in 2022.
In the same year, he won the Hyde Stakes at Kempton over a mile, and he was also the Listed winner, despite having not won since before Saturday.
He was a 7-1 shot to win the Victoria Cup, a handicap race spanning seven furlongs and including 21 runners with a prize fund of nearly £50,000, under Tom Marquand at Ascot.
The five-year-old had spent most of the race in the back of the group, but in the last few metres, he started to make his way through and displayed a nice turn of foot to grab the lead and win by a head.
“I was delighted, I think he won quite impressively considering they didn’t go overly quick early doors,” Fellowes said. “He was maybe not in the best position, although that was exactly where I wanted him, I just loved the way he put his head down and quickened. It was everything I wanted to see, his work at home had been very good but you never quite know what they’re going to do until they hit the racetrack. I’m sure it will do his confidence a bit of good, he didn’t win a race last year and he’s had some pretty tough assignments on the way.”
The Wizard of Eye has been tested on distances ranging from six to ten furlongs, and Fellowes is still unsure of what will be his ideal trip. Nevertheless, he will almost definitely make his next appearance at Royal Ascot, regardless of the length.