Elsworth aims both barrels at Eclipse
The colts were among 14 horses in the Group One showpiece at yesterday’s five-day confirmation stage, with Refuse To Bend and Maktub being supplemented at a cost of £20,000 each.
Norse Dancer has been campaigned at the highest level and finished fourth in last year’s Vodafone Derby, while Salford City finished fifth in this year’s renewal, beaten just four lengths by North Light.
“They are both intended runners and while they are both in the International (at York) as well, we have decided to turn up at Sandown and take it one race at a time,” said Elsworth.
“Salford City is fine, just as he was before the Derby. We are very pleased that he has maintained a high level of performance at home on the gallops and he possibly looks better than he did at Epsom.
“He got the best turned-out there, but they don’t give you a star for that and he is in great form.”
The Desert Sun colt kicked off his campaign with an impressive win in the Lane’s End Greenham Stakes but failed to show the same turn of foot when sixth in the UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas.
He then failed to stay and mile and a half in the Epsom Classic and Elsworth feels Saturday’s trip of a mile and a quarter could be ideal.
“It was the Derby and we thought we would let him take his chance, and he was only beaten about five lengths,” he said.
“Trainers are clever fellows but we are not clairvoyants and his owner, Michael Tabor, was keen to have a go.
“We don’t regret it but it did seem as though a mile and a half was stretching his stamina resources. He ran a good race, though, and actually went second to the winner before he emptied out, and he didn’t seem to get that little bit further.
“He has done nothing to disappoint us since the Derby and as he is one of the stronger three-year-olds, we had better turn up and see what happens.”
Salford City faces a clash with runaway Prince of Wales’s Stakes runner Rakti at the Esher venue and will receive an 11lb allowance from his older rival.
“The horse of Michael Jarvis’s has improved since last back-end and is in the best form of his life,” continued the Whitsbury-based handler.
“One would have to give him the utmost respect, but it is only a horse race. Our horse is only three and we are going to turn up and make a race of it.”
Stablemate Norse Dancer finished a well-beaten 12th in last year’s renewal but showed he retained his ability when finishing third, beaten three-quarters of a length by Russian Rhythm, in last month’s Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes.
However, the four-year-old has to put a disappointing effort behind him as he trailed in 29 lengths behind the victorious Refuse To Bend in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“He didn’t run well at all last time out but he is a danger to everybody and is a very good horse,” said his handler. “If he had a length or so swing his way on a few occasions, he would be a multiple Group One winner.
“Racing is an unforgiving game and people tend to cock an eyebrow if you don’t win and get beaten two short heads because it is such a fickle business.
“If you fancied anything in the race, you wouldn’t want him on your heels - he is a very good horse.”
One of those supplemented for the race was Maktub, who is the stable companion of ante-post favourite Rakti and carries the same colours of owner Gary Tanaka.
The five-year-old is a “natural front-runner” according to Jarvis and is not in the race solely as a pacemaker.
“That’s one of the reasons, but he’s a decent horse in his own right. He was second in a Group One last week and he is a natural front-runner anyway,” said Jarvis.
“He’ll be there to try and recoup his supplement. He loves fast ground and he loves to bowl along.”
Rakti is chasing the British Horseracing Board’s Summer Triple Crown following his impressive victory in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
“He’s in good form,” added the Newmarket trainer.
Bookmakers are taking no chances with last year’s Champion Stakes winner, with the sponsors installing him as the even-money favourite.
“We’re delighted with this list of entries, and particularly pleased that Godolphin have supplemented Refuse To Bend,” said Coral’s David Stevens.
“We just hope that whoever wins on Saturday goes on to emulate last year’s winner, the mighty Falbrav.”
Coral-Eclipse Stakes betting:
Ladbrokes: Evens Rakti, 6-1 Ikhtyar, Powerscourt, Refuse To Bend, 9-1 Salford City, 12-1 Kalaman, 16-1 African Dream, 20-1 Imperial Dancer, Warrsan, 25-1 Kaieteur, Norse Dancer, 33-1 Dutch Gold, 40-1 Chancellor, 66-1 Maktub.
Paddy Power: 11-10 Rakti, 6-1 Salford City, 13-2 Powerscourt, 7-1 Refuse To Bend, 12-1 Ikhtyar, Kalaman, 16-1 Warrsan, 25-1 African Dream, Kaieteur, Norse Dancer, 28-1 Imperial Dancer, 50-1 Chancellor, Dutch Gold, 66-1 Maktub.
