Costly son of Frankel holds plenty of Attraction for Johnston

Mark Johnston is hopeful that the Frankel two-year-old out of his dual Classic winner Attraction, recently named Elarqam, could be precocious enough to be seen out as a youngster.

The Middleham trainer was sent the colt before Christmas after he was purchased for 1.6 million guineas by Hamdan Al Maktoum at the Tattersalls October Sale, the most expensive Frankel to sell at the three-day auction.

The youngster, who unlike his sire is entered in next year's Epsom Derby, is evidently a strong type like his dam, who was unbeaten in five starts as two-year-old in 2003 including the Group 3 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The following season, Attraction went on to win both the Newmarket and Irish 1,000 Guineas before registering further Group 1 victories in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and Newmarket's Sun Chariot.

As a four-year-old she went out on a high when landing the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Johnston said: "Elarqam is absolutely fine and is very much like his mother in that he's mature for his age, and he looks like he will make into a two-year-old.

"As it's only February, we haven't really done that much with him just yet, but what he has shown us has been very pleasing. He's well muscled up and seems to have speed, so it's all positives at the moment."

Johnston has trained the offspring of Attraction previously, but her best progeny to date have been the Group 3-winning sprinter Fountain Of Youth and the Grade 3-placed Cushion, a three-parts sister to Elarqam.

At the time of the sale, the colt's breeder the Duke of Roxburghe said: "Frankel is the most exciting stallion, and Attraction was the most exciting thing to happen in my racing life - they both made all up the Rowley Mile.

"This colt was always the coolest horse to work with, a fantastic temperament and outlook. It's an honour that Sheikh Hamdan and Shadwell have bought him."