Flat racing's bright young talent put on a show at Newmarket

Life is full of mysteries but it is still difficult to comprehend how the man who gave us the likes of Shergar, Harbinger and Workforce has trained only one winner of British racing's premier two-year-old race.

It must be put down as an anomaly that Sir Michael Stoute has not landed Newmarket's Darley Dewhurst Stakes (3.00) since striking in 1986 with Adjal, who was fifth in the Guineas but won the July Cup.

However, there is no evidence the trainer's powers are waning. His victory with Desert Crown in this year's Derby, coupled with Sir Mark Prescott's breakthrough Arc win last week, showed you write off the septuagenarian at your peril, and the old master may have another champion waiting to emerge on Saturday in the shape of Nostrum.