The Mark Johnston-trained Elarqam was considered a big Classic prospect at the start of the season following a promising juvenile campaign and while slightly disappointing in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish version when last seen at the Curragh, he sets a warm standard in this weekend's Group Two on the Knavesmire.
The three-year-old will be having his first outing over 10 furlongs while Sir Michael Stoute's Smart Call was a comfortable winner over the trip in a Group Three at Newcastle at the end of June.
Success Days seems unlikely to run if the ground remains Good to Firm, having won the race on much softer conditions 12 months ago, while Richard Fahey could send Forest Ranger into battle after his Coral-Eclipse effort earlier in the month.
Malton-based Fahey said on Monday: "We’ll see how Forest Ranger is in the morning and make a decision then. The owner (Helen Steel) is keen to run."
Eugino, Fabricate, Brorocco, Thundering Blue, Euro Nightmare and German challenger Navaro Girl complete the list of entries at the six-day stage.
Thundering Blue's trainer David Menuisier said: "Thundering Blue came out of the John Smith’s Cup really well and we are looking at the Sky Bet York Stakes for him. We are 50-50 about running him at the moment – he loves York, but it’s a big call to go straight from a handicap into a Group Two race.
"It was an accumulation of things that cost him in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap. It was really quick ground, being the last race on the Friday, and was too fast for him.
"He is a hold-up horse, who has to go at his own pace before being allowed to use his stride, but he was drawn wide at Ascot and had to creep into the race. The same thing happened in the Cambridgeshire last year, when he had nothing to take him into the race.
"I think he is probably a Group horse now. He could have won the John Smith’s Cup with a bit more pace and, if he had, he would probably be rated 107 or 108. It’s a matter of gauging whether we throw him into the deep end this week or wait for a bit longer."
The sponsors make Elarqam 15/8 market leader ahead of Smart Call at 7/2 and you can head to the full Sky Bet market here.
