Award set for Ballysax test Andy Oliver is looking forward to testing Elusive Award over a mile and a quarter in the PW McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday. The Elusive Quality colt holds entries in the Irish 2000 Guineas and Derby and looked a useful prospect when winning his first two starts only to disappoint in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on his third and final outing. "The weather's looking good as he wants nice ground and it's drying up nicely," said the County Tyrone trainer. "At this time of year and his first run over that trip, he might need the run but the horse is well and he seems to be going the right way. "He's done well over the winter - he's really filled out. He's a big horse and we're looking forward to a good run. "I think he will be a 10-furlong horse eventually. He's a big horse with a high cruising speed and has plenty of toe. "My ideal situation would have been to run him in a nice mile race, but there weren't any to suit. I just wanted to run him towards the end of April, so we're having to take our chance in the Ballysax. "I think he'll get the trip but he might need the run first time out, we'll see." Oliver revealed the horse was found to be wrong after his run at Doncaster. "Things were completely wrong at Doncaster. He scoped badly after the race. He had a few niggly problems beforehand - he was a big, backward two-year-old," he went on. "We thought we had him in good shape and we'd got ourselves enthused for a crack at a Group One. "Perhaps it was a mistake to be there. In hindsight it was, but you don't know these things until afterwards. "Kevin Manning was very good on the day and looked after the horse when he knew things weren't right. It's something we've put behind us."
