TDN RISING STARS

September 10, 2017 - YORK, Race 4, Alw, GBP £12,000, 7.0F, 15.3500

Elarqam (GB), c, 2, 2015 by Frankel (GB)

1st Dam: Attraction (GB) (Hwt. 2yo Filly-Eng, Hwt. 3yo Filly & Older Mare-Ire at 7-9f, MG1SW-Eng & Ire, $1,583,910), by Efisio (GB)
2nd Dam: Flirtation (GB), by Pursuit Of Love (GB)
3rd Dam: Eastern Shore (GB), by Sun Prince (GB)

Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Breeder: Floors Farming (GB)
Trainer: Mark Johnston

Purchased for 1.6million by Angus Gold at Tattersalls October, Elarqam comes with plenty of pressure attached as a son of two multiple group 1 winners who dominated Newmarket’s Rowley Mile in the 2000 and 1000 Guineas. Attraction was a brilliant filly with famous legs, but what she lacked in ideal conformation she more than made up for in substance and she was the first to complete the treble of G1 English and Irish 1000 Guineas and G1 Coronation S. in 2004. That unique trio of victories followed successes in the G3 Queen Mary S. and G2 Cherry Hinton S. as a juvenile and preceded two more top-flight wins in the G1 Sun Chariot S. and G1 Matron S. in a tribute to Mark Johnston’s training skills as he kept her sweet for three seasons.

Elarqam had been pulled from his intended debut in a race eventually started with a flag at a rain-hit Ascot on Saturday and was well-supported for this redirection. Settled to race behind the leading trio throughout the early stages, the February-foaled bay who holds entries in Newmarket’s G2 Royal Lodge S. and G1 Dewhurst S. was pushed out with hands and heels to subdue the long-time leader Ayutthaya (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) with a furlong remaining. Drawing away on the run to the line, he opened the margin to 3 3/4 lengths and galloped out strong after. “He’s done it quite well, as the second horse had a bit of experience under his belt and the ground was a bit soft and scrappy,� jockey Dane O’Neill said. “He gave me a nice feel and the further he was going the better he was. I always felt that when I pressed the button he’d go and he’s a big prospect who hopefully will live up to it all. He doesn’t mind a bit of cut in the ground and is versatile, but it being more solid underfoot will help him a bit.�

Attraction’s record in the paddocks is beginning to stand up, with two smart performers in Cushion (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), MGSP-US & MSP-Eng, $169,111, and Fountain of Youth (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), GSW-Ire. The former was runner-up in the GIII My Charmer H. and GIII Violet S., while Fountain of Youth captured the G3 Sapphire S. for Ballydoyle. The half-sister to the GIII Hillsborough S. runner-up Federation (GB) (Motivator {GB}) also has a yearling colt by Dubawi (Ire) and a filly foal by Invincible Spirit (Ire) named Motion (GB) waiting in the wings.