BALDING TAKES A GLANCE AT FRANKEL

Side Glance could well cross paths with the mighty Frankel before the season is out after earning himself a first Pattern-race victory in the totepool Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury.

Andrew Balding's four-year-old seems to have improved hugely this season, recording impressive Listed-race victories at Ascot and Windsor before placing a slightly unlucky third behind Dick Turpin in the Summer Mile.

The Rectifier cut out the early running in this Group Three prize, with Jimmy Fortune his nearest pursuer on 2-1 favourite Side Glance.

The leader proved a tough nut to crack but Side Glance battled his way to the front and had enough in hand as the post loomed to hold off the strong-finishing Dance And Dance by a neck.

Balding is now considering a trip across the Atlantic for his exciting gelding, after which he could take on the unbeaten Frankel in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot (October 15).

Balding told Racing UK: "I think there might still be a bit more to come.

"The Rectifier gave us a lovely lead and he's a decent horse, but Jimmy said he'd be better off in a strongly-run race where we could sit a bit further back.

"What we'd intended beforehand if he ran well enough was to go to Toronto for the Woodbine Mile in mid-September.

"It's a $1million race and the track would suit him down to the ground. Although it's on the turn it's a galloping track and they tend to go a good gallop there.

"He's run exceptionally well on the straight track at Ascot and that is why he's entered in the QEII. It's pretty good prize-money for third and fourth and I think that's probably a likely autumn target.

"He's a gelding and he's been bought to race, so that's what he'll do, hopefully."

Goodwood Atlantis (12-1) just managed to get the better of Presburg in a thrilling finish to division one of the RSM Tenon Maiden Auction Stakes.

The 12-1 shot was well beaten on his debut at Sandown but looked to know more about his job this time, scoring by a short head under Ted Durcan.

Winning trainer John Dunlop said: "I'm couldn't be more pleased with him and he behaved very well once Ted got on him.

"Ted liked him and said he acted on the ground, which is pretty fast.

"He said he thought he'd come on for that and that he'd get a mile now and maybe a mile and a quarter next year.

"I didn't have anything in mind until this had been achieved so we'll see what sort of rating we get. We might find a conditions race somewhere."

Frog Hollow (3-1 favourite) took division two, confirming the promise of his debut to score by a length and a half for Ralph Beckett and Jim Crowley.

"He got a lovely introductory ride at Nottingham and although he was ready to run and physically he's right there, mentally he's not," said Beckett.

"I don't think he's going to be the finished article until next year and he has just taken a long time to grasp what is required.

"We'll see what the handicapper does but you would thinking running in a seven-furlong nursery would be a good idea.

"We like him and I think he'll get better with time."

Orpen'arry (13-2) took the Mary Wort Memorial Maiden, while 12-1 shot Dubai Glory was a ready winner of the E.B.F. 'Tobougg' Fillies' Handicap.

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