Elarqam Retired to Stand at Haras de Saint Arnoult

Group 2 winner Elarqam has been retired and will stand at Haras de Saint Arnoult in partnership with racing owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. 

The son of Frankel and the brilliant Attraction was a 1,600,000 guineas (US$2,141,832) purchase from Floors Stud at Book 1 of Tattersalls' October Yearling Sale in 2016 and rounded off an unbeaten juvenile season with success in the Tattersalls Somerville Stakes (G3).

Elarqam was fourth behind Saxon Warrior in the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1), while he added two listed scores and victory in the Sky Bet York Stakes (G2) to his CV at 4, after which he produced arguably his career-best performance when a close third behind Japan and Crystal Ocean in the Juddmonte International (G1).

This year at 5, the Mark Johnston-trained runner was a narrow second to Lord North in the Betway Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) at Haydock and bounced back after two below-par efforts to win the Dubai Duty Free Legacy Cup (G3) at Newbury last month.

The operation's Larissa Kneip said: "Elarqam is a horse Sheikh Hamdan really believes in and Shadwell were looking for a partnership. He's the second highest-rated son of Frankel and, so as not to be in competition with Cracksman, it looked a good idea to stand him in another country.

"I think he'll make a difference to the French stallion market, and really get some attention. He's very versatile because he won a group race over seven furlongs at 2 and was able to win another group race over 11 furlongs at 5. Versatility is something British breeders perhaps don't appreciate quite as much the French."

Shadwell's stud director Richard Lancaster added: "We're extremely excited to be standing Elarqam in France from next season, in partnership with Haras de Saint Arnoult.

"He was a prolific racehorse having won or placed in group races at 2, 3, 4, and 5, and, in an industry centered around genetics, the quality of his pedigree speaks for itself. A son of Frankel out of Attraction, what more could a breeder want?"

Saint Arnoult will also stand Yafta, a group 3-winning son of Dark Angel who likewise raced for Sheikh Hamdan, and was trained by Richard Hannon. The 5-year-old was bought outright by the stud. 

Kneip added: "Yafta has been bought from Shadwell through agent Richard Venn by an owner of mine who's been wanting to invest in a speed sire for a while now, but it was hard to find the right profile. 

"He's the type of stallion that was missing from our roster here at Haras de Saint Arnoult, and the type of sire we're in desperate need of here in France.

"So we were delighted to be offered this really well-bred and attractive colt, I think he'll be highly welcomed by breeders who are desperate to add some speed and precocity to their dam lines."

Elarqam will stand for €6,000, and Yafta for €2,500.