Gordon Elliott’s Beckford bids for first Group 1 win in Sunday’s Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh
Gordon Elliott is well known for his jumps success but he has a very exciting Flat youngster on his hands in Beckford who impressed in the Railway Stakes last time
GORDON ELLIOTT is confident Beckford can improve again in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
Elliott's two-year-old made a big impression when winning the Railway Stakes on his last start and he goes in search of his first Group 1 win on Sunday.
"He's in great form. Declan (McDonogh) sat on him the other week and gave him a blow over four or five furlongs in Leopardstown," said Elliott.
"This is a step up again, but he's doing everything we've asked of him.
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"I think he's improved. He's getting stronger. He needs to improve, so we'll see what happens."
Aidan O'Brien has dominated this event over the years, with Caravaggio providing him with a 15th success in the last 19 seasons 12 months ago.
This year's four-strong team is headed by Sioux Nation, who makes his first appearance since winning the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
The Ballydoyle handler also saddles, Actress, U S Navy Flag and Declarationofpeace.
"Declarationofpeace hasn't run since Ascot as we were a little bit disappointed with him there," O'Brien told At The Races.
"He had a little bit of a hold up about a month before and that might have affected him so he might leave that run behind and hopefully the ground might be nice and quick."
Romanised made a striking debut at Navan in May and was far from disgraced in finishing seventh in Ascot's Coventry Stakes.
His trainer Ken Condon said: "We like him a lot and after Sunday we will know a lot more.
"He has always given us the impression he is a good colt and in the circumstances, with him being slowly away at Royal Ascot, I felt he ran very well.
"I think he has improved since Royal Ascot and his work has been to a good standard."
The field is completed by two British challengers in Tom Dascombe's Frozen Angel and the Mick Channon-trained Helvetian.