THERE are plenty of notable two-year-olds who have gone on to successful stud careers, although not many of them as popular as Elusive Pimpernel. The son of US champion sire Elusive Quality (Gone West) won a seven-furlong Newmarket maiden a month before taking the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York and then chased home the top-class, but sadly ill-fated, St Nicholas Abbey in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

The 115-rated Elusive Pimpernel was an obvious classic contender and, having won the Group 3 Craven Stakes by four lengths on his seasonal reappearance, he was among the favourites for the 2000 Guineas two weeks later. He was off the track for 11 and a half months after his fifth-place finish to Makfi at Newmarket, but his blacktype placings at four included the Group 3 Rose of Lancaster Stakes and Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes.