Side Glance could not manage to pull off the Cox Plate in Melbourne for Andrew Balding but the trainer had Group One success at home with Elm Park an all-the-way winner of the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
With Balding in Australia to oversee Side Glance’s fourth behind Adelaide, it was his father, retired trainer Ian Balding, who had the pleasure of leading in home-bred Elm Park who stamped himself a serious contender for next year’s Derby.
“I’m just so thrilled. We’ve had five generations of this family,” Ian Balding said.
“To have bred him is much more special.”
“Andrew does this job better than I do, so I won’t be telling him how to go about next year.”
The Kingsclere syndicate co-owns the talented colt along with Qatar Racing who bought a significant share before his victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes last month.
Elm Park was ridden by Andrea Atzeni who officially takes on the role of No.1 jockey to Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing operation next season.
“He’s very straightforward. He travelled nicely and I kept it simple, really. It was like riding a piece of work,” Atzeni said.
“He’s a beautiful mover and he’s got a great attitude. He can only get better with age.
“I’d won a Group Two, a Group Three and a Listed race for Sheikh Fahad, and to get a Group One before next season is great.”
Atzeni is due in Australia to ride the Roger Varian-trained My Ambivalent in the Melbourne Cup as long as she passes a veterinary inspection early in the week.
The mare missed the Caulfield Cup with a stone bruise.