Dropping back to a mile and a liking for softer ground gave Elkington Road an edge when he returned to winning form in the Lamaro Hotel Hcp (1600m) at Sandown Hillside on Saturday.
A progressive 3yo son of Vinery sire All Too Hard, he dueled with Euphoric (Sebring) for a furlong before getting a head-bobbing decision for Jamie Mott who has been aboard in all bar one of his 10 starts.
Elkington Road had won his first two outings at Sandown and Flemington at the start of this season for trainer Mike Moroney and he was also runner-up in the VRC Carbine Club Stakes (LR, 1600m) at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Mott has never lost faith even though it’s taken a half-dozen starts to break through this prep. “It was close. I thought we may have got beat,” he confessed. “He came up under me and really wanted to fight it out to the line.
“The Soft 6 made a difference today and so did coming back to 1600m. He’s been running well but firm tracks haven’t helped. He won on debut on a Heavy 10.”
Assistant-trainer Glen Thompson said Elkington Road had just failed to see out 1800m when fourth at Sandown earlier this month. “He looked the winner at the furlong but didn’t run it out. Conditions were perfect today and he was good enough to get the job done.”
Moroney will make a decision on his immediate future after gauging how he comes through the victory. He will either press on for a winter campaign or have a break and return as a spring four-year-old.
Elkington Road was bred by Roger Sousa in partnership with Sam Connors and sold for $240,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier. His dam Sherbet Bomb (Snitzel) has also foaled Sydney winner Switched (All Too Hard) and NZ Group performer Rocket Fuel (Smart Missile).
Her latest is a Bivouac filly purchased by Garryard Equine for $130,000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale on May 1. She was catalogued by Middlebrook Valley Lodge (as agent) at Riverside Stables.
Elkington Road is the 10th individual winner by All Too Hard in May and he signs off this month with 19 yearlings at the Magic Millions National Sale on Tuesday and Wednesday with the majority on account of Baramul Stud.
Among Baramul’s recent updates is Lot 1489, the half-brother to Stuart Kendrick’s promising 2yo Torque I Tee (Shalaa). He burst through a narrow split along the rails to nail a second juvenile win at the Sunshine Coast last Sunday.
All Too Hard will stand for an unchanged $38,500 service fee at Vinery this year alongside Ole Kirk ($55,000), Exceedance ($33,000), Star Turn ($27,500), Headwater ($13,200) and Casino Prince ($5,500). All fees (inc. GST) for payment on a live foal. For bookings or further information, contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).