Elarqam has Crowley dreaming of first Classic triumph Former champion jockey Jim Crowley has set his sights on winning his first British Classic this season. And there is a genuine chance Crowley could gain the success he has longed for as early as next month, aboard the Mark Johnston-trained Elarqam in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Crowley guided the unbeaten son of Frankel to victory in a Group Three on the Rowley Mile on his final start in September, with the Sheikh Hamdan-owned colt having been victorious on his debut under Dane O'Neill at York earlier that month. He said: "Hopefully Elarqam is something to look forward to this year. I think the three-year-olds look a very good bunch, as the two-year-olds looked quite strong at the end of the season. "When you have got that pedigree and price tag, there is always going to be a little bit of anticipation of the horse living up to the hype. "He is a lovely horse and has got a great temperament. He did what I thought he would do at Newmarket last time out and the form has worked out nicely with winners coming out of it. "We will go straight to the Guineas with him and I am looking forward to it." He added of the 1.6 million-guinea purchase: "I just thought he went through the gears nicely at Newmarket and you can only ask for that. He was always going to be much better at three than he was at two. "It is quite a big positive that he handles the Rowley Mile. He seemed very well balanced last year and his style of racing suits Newmarket. "I've hit the crossbar a couple of times in Classic races and now the aim is to win one, but they are never easy." The Charlie Hills-trained Battaash took the sprinting scene by storm last year, culminating in an impressive first Group One success in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Chantilly in October. Crowley is keeping his fingers crossed the pair can be a force to be reckoned with once again. He said: "I didn't know much about him at the start of last season, but when he won at Sandown he was very impressive that day. "He just improved and improved. He got a little bit buzzed up at York, but next time out he was so impressive at Chantilly. Hopefully he showed everyone that day what he is capable of, as he did in the King George Stakes at Goodwood as well. "Hopefully he will take on Harry Angel at some point and that will be a good clash. "Sheikh Hamdan has had some very good sprinters over the years and he is special. He has got lots of speed and is just naturally very fast. "I've sat on him a few times at home and he is getting more relaxed. Like I've said before, riding him up the gallops is like riding a motorbike." Crowley finds himself in the fortunate position of looking forward to two talented speedsters, with the William Haggas-trained Tasleet coming back for more. He said: "He has been a fantastic servant. He was so unfortunate not to win a Group One after finishing second in three of them last year. "He did win the Duke Of York. He is a proper six-furlong horse that likes a bit of cut in the ground. He was so close to winning a Group One last year, so it would be lovely for him to get his head in front in one this year."
