Atzeni sweet on Elm Park’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas chances

Elm Park on his way to a comfortable success in the Racing Post Trophy. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Top Series rider Andrea Atzeni has warned that QIPCO 2000 Guineas contender Elm Park could out-run his 25/1 odds in the British Classic at Newmarket on Saturday 2 May.

A convincing winner of the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy, it is believed that the three-year-old will be more effective over distances further than a mile.

However, Atzeni is confident that the leading Investec Derby contender also possesses the speed needed to seriously challenge for the Rowley Mile Classic.

"I’ll probably have a sit on him, maybe just before the Guineas probably," the Italian jockey told At The Races.

"It’s still early days, I think he’s going straight to the Guineas, but it’s a bit early to be having a sit on him yet.

"He has more speed than people think, he’s got a high cruising speed. When he won the Racing Post Trophy he travelled really well and quickened well.

"He’ll stay further than a mile no problem this year so he could be a Derby contender."