Elarqam Heads Six Runners for the Group 3 Tattersalls Sovereign Stakes

Salisbury Racecourse
Salisbury Racecourse

A total of six runners have been declared for the Group 3 Tattersalls Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury racecourse this Thursday (16:10 GMT), with Mark Johnston’s ELARQAM looking the horse to beat in the one-mile contest.

ELARQAM, who is by Frankel out of the Classic winning filly Attraction, was purchased at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 1.6 million guineas from Floors Stud by Shadwell Estates. He represents the sole three-year-old in the race and will carry 8st 10lb against his five older rivals. Fourth in this year’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, Elarqam most recently placed third in the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes last month.

He will face stiff competition from ZONDERLAND with trainer Clive Cox electing to drop the five-year-old down from Group 1 level for this contest. He previously contested the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes, carrying the silks of owner and breeder Cheveley Park Stud.

The race will also feature a sole international raider from France, with the Andre Fabre trained colt PLUMATIC lining up at Salisbury in the hands of jockey Maxime Guyon. The field is completed by Tattersalls graduates, HATHAL and SOUTH SEAS, trained by Jamie Osborne and Andrew Balding respectively and the Richard Hannon trained OH THIS IS US.

Charlie Johnston, assistant trainer of Elarqam, commented;
“Great to get him out at York a couple of weeks ago. Slightly frustrating as it looked like had won it for most of the straight, but the petrol gauge just ran empty that last 150 yards. It was a solid return to action though, even if it was slightly disappointing not to win.

“We are dropping back to a mile off the back of that run which I hope will be ok. I wouldn’t be surprised if we go back to a mile and a quarter later in the year. This though looks like a good next spot for him. There are six runners and he is top rated, so it would be nice to get him back in the winner’s enclosure.”

The Group 3 Tattersalls Sovereign Stakes is being sponsored by Tattersalls for the first time in 2018.

The next sale scheduled to take place at Tattersalls is Book 1 of the October Yearling Sale, Europe’s premier yearling sale, 9-11 October. The catalogue is now available online at www.tattersalls.com.