Elm Park emerged as a serious contender for the Investec Derby from the historic Kingsclere stable with an impressive win in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.

A statue of 1971 Derby hero Mill Reef adorns the yard and is a reminder of the days when Ian Balding held the licence.

Now his son Andrew rules the roost, but as he was in Australia supervising Side Glance's effort in the Cox Plate earlier in the day, it was left to his father to greet the winner, bred under the Kingsclere banner.

Balding senior said: "I'm just so thrilled. We've had five generations of this family. It's lovely.

"To have bred him is much more special. He's got the right temperament this horse, which is so important.

"Mill Reef had it, of course, in spades. He had a wonderful temperament. This fella certainly has it as well."

The Kingsclere syndicate co-owns the talented colt along with Qatar Racing, who bought a significant share before his victory in the Royal Lodge Stakes last month.

That was a Group Two contest and Elm Park (13-8 favourite) stepped up to the top level, doing it the hard way from the front.

Andrea Atzeni, successful 12 months ago on subsequent St Leger hero Kingston Hill, took a no-nonsense approach from the front and once he kicked on two furlongs from home, the race was as good as over.

Aloft made progress from the rear but on hitting the furlong pole Atzeni's mount really lengthened to win in style by two-and-three-quarter lengths. Celestial Path was half a length away in third.

Atzeni, number one jockey to Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing operation next season, said: "He's very straightforward. He travelled nicely and I kept it simple, really. It was like riding a piece of work."

Sheikh Fahad said: "I was just on the phone to Andrew in Australia and he is unbelievably thrilled. It's a great day.

"I haven't seen a horse go through the ground like that in my relatively new time in racing, he just glides through it. I think logically that the Derby is the target."

For the Derby, Elm Park was cut to 14-1 from 20-1 with Coral and 16-1 from 33s with Paddy Power.

The Balding team were also on the mark with Dungannon (13-2), who repeated last year's victory when powering home in the Betdaq Betting Exchange £30 Free Bet Handicap by a length-and-a-quarter under Oisin Murphy.

William Muir believes Code Red (11-2) could be a Qipco 2000 Guineas hopeful after he took the Scott Dobson Memorial Doncaster Stakes in brave fashion.

The Lambourn trainer was full of praise for the son of Bahamian Bounty, who sustained a cut leg while powering to victory under Martin Dwyer by three-quarters of a length ahead of the 9-4 favourite Portamento.

"I've always thought this horse was top class," said Muir.

Another absent trainer in clover was Richard Fahey, who enjoyed a treble with Withernsea, Latenighterequest and Tachophobia.

Latenightrequest (14-1) could return to the Town Moor course for the Betfred November Handicap in two weeks' time after running riot in the Bet Through The Racing Post App Handicap.

The three-year-old filly, owned by Middleham Park Racing, relished the soft ground as she romped home by four-and-a-half lengths under Paul Hanagan.

"It was only halfway through the season we figured it out that she loves soft ground," said Middleham Park's bloodstock manager Nick Bradley.

"She's got a big heart and we're very excited. She'll come back for the November Handicap, all being well."

Mick Appleby has enjoyed great success with cheap purchases and he came up trumps with Lulu The Zulu (14-1), who cost 200 euros yet pocketed £6,300 when winning the Racing Post Daily Edition For Ipad Conditions Stakes.

The six-year-old mare burst through the field for 3lb claimer Ryan Tate in the final furlong to score by a length from Group performer Top Notch Tonto.

Tachophobia (8-1) took the crownhotel-bawtry.com Nursery Handicap by a neck in the hands of apprentice Jack Garritty.