Tuesday 26 May 2015 11:23, UK
Jockey Andrea Atzeni was delighted with Elm Park after the leading Investec Derby prospect traversed the famous Epsom turf at a well-attended Breakfast With The Stars morning.
Last season's Racing Post Trophy winner ran a perfectly respectable race when third in the Dante Stakes at York earlier this month on his seasonal reappearance and connections are anticipating improvement ahead of his Classic bid on June 6.The Andrew Balding-trained son of Phoenix Reach appeared to have no problems with the notoriously tricky circuit, sitting in the slipstream of lead horse Breakheart rounding Tattenham Corner before quickening up nicely to finish well on top.
"I was pleased, and thought it was a nice bit of work," said the jockey.
"He travelled well behind his lead horse, who went a nice, even gallop.
"I let him stretch his legs coming down the hill and he cruised to the front and quickened up well.
"He had a good look in front and wandered around a bit, but he was entitled to as he's never been here before.
"I think it's good to bring him here as it gives them a good feel for the track, even though the pace will be different in the Derby and there will be more runners.
"The Dante was the best trial of the year. There were no unlucky stories and hopefully we can reverse the form on Derby day."
Balding said: "I was happy as Andrea was happy. "The main thing was to let him have a feel for the track. It was not a fact-finding mission.
"It's a big help coming here and Andrew Cooper (clerk of the course)) has done a fabulous job with the ground - it is lovely to work on fantastic ground.
"He had a hard race in the Dante but, to my surprise, by the Monday morning he was fresh and well.
"You always worry the first run back after a long lay-off may drag them back but he seems fine.
"Bonfire won the Dante but he didn't handle Epsom at all. "Elm Park has had a lot more runs as a two-year-old and is a bit more professional and has a better constitution."
reopens Elm Park could be part of a strong team for Elm Park's owner, Sheikh Fahad, with Monday's German 2000 Guineas winner Karpino and Prix Greffulhe hero Sumbal also in the mix. Both horses would have to be supplemented. Qatar Racing's racing manager, David Redvers, said: "Karpino has come out of the race in great form. "The big shame is that the German Guineas comes about 10 days too late and doesn't really give a big enough window, but we will see how he goes in the next few days. "Andreas (Wohler, trainer) has talked about him being a King George or Arc horse. "It was the fastest time in the last 20 years of the German Guineas and he was never off the bridle at any stage. "To do that over a mile is quite staggering as he bred to be a mile-and-a-half horse. "He is clearly very exciting it is a great shame that the race was not a couple of weeks earlier. "Andrea rode Sumbal in a piece of work at Chantilly (on Monday) and he is also a possibility. "He won't come unless there is significant rain. "A decision will be made later this week and I would say that the French Derby is the favourite at the moment."
