MICHAEL STOUTE'S bid for a third victory in the 2,000 Guineas will rest with Entrepreneur and Desert Story after it was confirmed that the stable's Greenham Stakes winner Yalaietanee will by pass Newmarket for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains a week on Sunday.

Stoute had waited to consult Yalaietanee's owner Sheikh Maktotim Al Maktoum, in whose colours Craven Stakes winner Desert Story also runs, before deciding on which horses would attempt to supplement his 2,000 Guineas victories with Shadeed (1985) and Doyoun (1988).

And yesterday the Sheikh's racing manager. Joe Mercer, said: "Desert Story will run in the 2,000 Guineas and Yalaietanee will run in the French 2,000 Guineas.

Why jeopardise a horse like Yalaietanee on fast ground when he will be better with a bit more cut? The ground at Newmarket will be good, fast ground, but it will be fast ground.

"It has been a scorching day today and any watering they have done today will have been absorbed, so Yalaietanee will go to France. Ray Cochrane will ride Desert Story on Saturday and we would like to get Frankie Dettori for Yalaietanee if he is available."

Clive Brittain's Fantastic Fellow will join Yalaietanee at Longchamp after the trainer ruled out the 2,000 Guineas for his Lear Fan colt.

Fantastic Fellow, winner of a Listed race at Maisons Laffitte on his seasonal debut last month, had been left in at Newmarket in case the field for the English classic cut up.

But after consultation with Prince Ahmed Salman, mastermind of the Thoroughbred Corporation, in whose colours Fantastic Fellow runs, Brittain has decided to opt for Longchamp.

"John Reid will ride him. John has a lot of experience round there and will ride him in work on Saturday."