Friday 29 August 2014 12:07, UK
Elm Park is set to take his chance at Salisbury on Friday unless conditions deteriorate - in which case he would switch to Sandown for Saturday's European Wealth Solario Stakes.
Trainer Andrew Balding intends running the Phoenix Reach colt in the EBF Stallions Stonehenge Stakes, a Listed contest over a mile, at the Wiltshire track.
As a precaution, though, he declared Elm Park for the seven-furlong Group Three over an extended seven furlongs at the Esher venue.
"I think he'll run on Friday. I just wanted the insurance in case the ground was unsuitably soft at Salisbury," said Balding.
"We'll hoping to go to tomorrow unless the ground is very testing. He seems in good form. We'll find out how much he's come on after his next race."
Elm Park got off the mark at the second attempt when successful over 12 rivals in a seven-furlong maiden at Newbury two weeks ago prompting the trainer's mother, Lady Emma, to remark 'it's the first time I've gone weak at the knees watching a race for a very long time. David was very happy, he said it took him a long time to pull him up'.
There are due to be four rivals to Elm Park including Tupi and Mister Universe who both held entries for the Sandown race.
Tupi is trained by Richard Hannon who told his website: "Tupi is a decent colt and he ran well to finish second in a Listed race in France recently.
"The ground was very testing and, though most of the Tamayuz progeny enjoy a bit of cut, he is such a good moving colt that we feel less testing conditions will suit him better. It will be soft at Salisbury, but not as soft as at Deauville.
"He travelled great on better ground at Goodwood and bumped into what looked a real good youngster in Highland Reel, so we are entitled to fancy our chances here."
The line-up is completeted by Groor and Winters Moon.
