Shadwell's G3 Somerville S. hero and 'TDN Rising Star' Elarqam (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who ran fourth in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday, will point toward the June 3 G1 QIPCO Prix du Jockey Club. While the [May 26] G1 Irish 2000 Guineas has not been ruled out, Johnston will not consider the G2 Dante S. at York on May 17 as he feels it will come too soon.
“I think the jury is out as to where he will go next, it could be the Irish 2000 Guineas or the French Derby,” said trainer Mark Johnston. “I think we will need to look at those two races, but I think the obvious choice is probably the French Derby. It's a mile and a quarter race that is often won by sharp horses. I couldn't say which race he would go for as that would be up to connections and Sheikh Hamdan has not really had a say on it yet at all. The only thing we can say is that he won't run in the Dante as that comes too soon. I think the positive thing we established is that he is a Group 1 horse, no doubt at all. It is Group 1s for the forseeable future.
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