Elm Park Pleasing Balding

Andrew Balding is looking forward to the summer with Group 1-winning juvenile Elm Park (GB) (Phoenix Reach {Ire}). The

G1 Racing Post Trophy winner was widely regarded as a leading G1 Investec Derby candidate last year, a race in which he disappointed, but after which he was subsequently quite jarred up. The Qatar Racing colorbearer reappeared three months later for a cosy listed race success at Sandown in September before a respectable effort in the G1 QIPCO Queen Elizabeth II S. where he finished fifth to champion Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). Thinking ahead, Balding is hoping to have Elm Park ready for action in April.

“Elm Park is in good form at home and won't run until the turf season starts again,” said Balding. “Obviously he was very jarred up after the Derby, but I thought he ran well when winning at Sandown and I thought he ran a good race in the QEII when he was the first 3-year-old home that day. We will probably look towards the mile Group 2 race [G2 Bet365 Mile] at Sandown in April. The [G1] Lockinge is also a possibility, but we might step him back up to a mile and a quarter. These are things we need to discuss with the owners.”