WHEN Eagles By Day beat Communique by half a length to win the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes over 14 furlongs at York, it was inevitable that he would secure a place at stud.

The Vanessa and Dan Hutch-bred horse had been third to Japan in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes the previous summer, just under two months after a runaway success at Salisbury, and having finished fourth to another son of Sea The Stars, Stradivarius, in the Group 1 Goodwood Cup just 10 days after his pattern success, he rounded off the track phase of his career when chasing home Group 1 winner Hukum in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot.