NEWMARKET THURSDAY

THE Newmarket Cambridgeshire meeting opened in bright sunshine on Thursday, when Mark Johnston’s Elarqam justified 11/8 favouritism in the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes over seven furlongs.

A Frankel colt out of Johnston’s star filly Attraction, Elarqam was successful on his debut at York and took this step-up in class in his stride.

Soon prominent towards the outside, he was pushed along by Jim Crowley and found plenty from the furlong marker, coming home just over two lengths ahead of Tip Two Win, with former sales winner Tangled only inches behind in third.

“This is the most nervous I’ve been for years, maybe since the days his mother ran,” the trainer said. “He’s a difficult horse to read because it’s almost as if he lets other horses come to him before finding another gear. It’s just inexperience, really.”

There may well be more to come because Elarqam became very warm beforehand and still looked green in the race. He is in the Dewhurst but a mile in the Racing Post Trophy looks more suitable.