Salford Mill disappoints in gallop

David Elsworth was left scratching his head after Vodafone Derby second favourite Salford Mill disappointed in a workout at Newmarket on Friday morning.

Partnered by Tony Procter, Salford Mill did not get past one of the two lead horses in the specially arranged gallop.

“I was disappointed with the way Salford Mill worked, which was not consistent with the sparkle he usually shows us in the mornings,” said Elsworth.

“We are scratching our heads a little but Tony said he was a little quiet before the gallop and he may have not been himself.

“We will run all the usual tests but he seemed brighter when he was having a pick of grass back at the yard and I don’t believe there is much in it.”

Salford Mill missed the Dante Stakes at York on account of the soft ground but Elsworth is not giving up on his Derby dreams.

“We are certainly not ready to stack our cards for Epsom just yet and the only positive thing is that it wasn’t consistent with the way he usually works,” Elsworth told the Racing Post.

“Hopefully either Kerrin McEvoy, who rode him at Newmarket, or Ted Durcan will take the ride at Epsom but we’ll sort that out next week.

“I was impressed with Authorized in the Dante but I’m not convinced that he beat anything much.

“Strictly on form, a line through the third Al Shemali, puts us ahead as Salford Mill beat him further in the Feilden Stakes at the Craven meeting.”