BECKFORD could be on his way back to Europe next month.

Winner of the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the Curragh last season for trainer Gordon Elliott, Beckford remained in the USA after his fifth placing behind Mendelssohn in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Still owned by Newtown Anner Stud, the Bated Breath three-year-old is now trained by Brendan Walsh and last weekend he won the $100,000 William Walker Stakes on turf at Churchill Downs.

Julien Leparoux’s mount, sent off the 6/4 favourite, won the five-furlong race on firm ground in a time of 57.28secs.

Leparoux said: “He’s a very fast horse. I knew he needed a target in front of him so we sat off the pace in a good spot around the turn and he flew home. I think he is going to have a very bright future ahead of him. Brendan and his team did a very nice job with him.”

The Co Cork-born Walsh added: “We thought he was a special horse when we first got him. Just by simply looking at his past performances he ran some very nice races as a two-year-old. He does his best running with a target in front of him. We’ll probably regroup and see how he comes out of this race to determine a plan for him the rest of the year.”

The Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot is believed to be under consideration.