Guineas fancy Elarqam given Dante option as connections ponder his best trip

Elarqam, 7-1 second favourite for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, featured among 83 entries released on Wednesday for the Group 2 Betfred Dante Stakes over a mile and a quarter on May 17 as connections continue to weigh up what distance is likely to best suit the unbeaten colt.

The Mark Johnston-trained Group 3 winner has been the subject of strong ante-post support over the past month for the first Classic of the year at Newmarket on May 5 and is certainly bred for the job, being the offspring of 2,000 Guineas winner Frankel and 1,000 Guineas scorer Attraction.

Elarqam was supposed to work at Redcar on Monday but, as the fixture fell foul of the weather, Johnston opted to keep him at home. Plans remain in place to take Elarqam to Newmarket for a racecourse gallop at the Craven meeting.

Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: “Elarqam missed out on going to Redcar but it wasn’t supposed to be a searching test and the plan is still to take him to the Craven meeting.

“From what we saw last season I think he could be a very good horse if he stays a mile and a quarter. He’s by a Guineas winner out of a Guineas winner so maybe he could be a miler if he strengthens up, but it could be that he wants further.”

King George and Arc winner Enable features among 16 fillies and mares entered for the Group 2 Betfred Middleton Stakes at York on the same day as the Dante.

The King George and Arc winner has previous experience of the Knavesmire, having landed the Yorkshire Oaks there last August.

Unbeaten Group 3 Acomb Stakes winner Wells Farhh Go, trained by
Tim Easterby, is one of six additional entries for the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 2.

Andre Fabre has entered Frankel colt Rabdan, who created a striking impression on his second start when landing a 1m4f maiden at Saint-Cloud by nine lengths.

Hugo Palmer has entered progressive pair White Mocha and Fajjaj, while Bedouin’s Story and the unraced Miles Christianus make up the six who were added to Britain’s richest race for £9,000 apiece.

The final chance to enter for the Derby is at the five-day confirmation stage on May 28, when horses can be supplemented at a cost of £85,000.

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