Trainer Mike Moroney will give Elkington Road a chance to emulate his sire All Too Hard in the Caulfield Guineas after keeping his record at a perfect two-for-two with a fighting win over 1420m at Flemington on Sunday.
After a weather-delayed start, Elkington Road looked in trouble when headed by Desert Star at the 200m. He began to rally for Jamie Mott and looked set for a comfortable win when Desert Star (Deep Field) raised another effort.
There was a half-head in it on the line with The Wizard King (Flying Artie) a length and a half back in third.
"He is still new to it all. It's a pity the race was not on a better surface to get a true line on him," Moroney said.
"I will be guided by what Jamie thinks. He looks in the right order to me.
"If you had to pick between my two, the other being Japanese Emperor, I think this horse is a bit stronger."
Jamie Mott said All Too Hard's son would learn plenty from his fighting win.
"He did it so easy first-up, but it was a different situation for him today where he needed to fight," Mott said.
"He has great qualities, though. He fought when I needed him. Luke Nolen (on Desert Star) probably got half to three-quarters on me. My horse found plenty, but to his credit, Trumby's kept finding, and it was a ding dong battle to the line.
A $100,000 Inglis weanling, Elkington Road was a $240,000 purchase for Paul Moroney Bloodstock / M Moroney from the Northmore Thoroughbreds draft at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
A half-brother to Group III-placed Rocket Fuel (Smart Missile), Elkington Road is the fourth winner from as many foals from the winning Snitzel mare Sherbet Bomb.
An $85,000 purchase for Platinum Breeding And Racing / Pinhook Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2019 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, Sherbet Bomb is a daughter of stakes-winner and Group 1 NZ Oaks third Lady Annaliese (Groom Dancer).
Sherbet Bomb has a yearling colt by Pride Of Dubai and visited Bivouac last spring.
