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Elite Status confirmed his early-season promise with an easy victory in the six-furlong Group 3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville on Sunday.
A traditional trial for the Group 1 Prix Morny over the same course and distance on 20 August, the Prix de Cabourg has produced some useful winners including Dabirsim, Ervedya and Earthlight. Jockey Clifford Lee was happy to sit the colt in second place from the early stages and asked him to make an effort at one-and-a-half furlongs out. Elite Status responded well, taking up the lead and fending off the challenge of André Fabre's Saji to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths in comfortable fashion.
In a post-race interview, trainer Karl Burke said: "I think he beat a couple of smart French colts and did it very easy in the end.
"He's a lazy horse and we learned a little bit more about him today and he was drawing away at the end once Cliff gave him a smack or two. Cliff said he couldn't pull him up then and there was a bit more in the tank I think."
Elite Status was an impressive winner of a Doncaster maiden on debut and followed up with a devastating five-length success in the Listed National Stakes at Sandown Park. Although the colt placed third in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, he became unbalanced under pressure in the final two furlongs and was unable to produce a challenge late on.
"He's a lovely horse and we think he's pretty good and it's great to get back on track after Ascot when we were a bit disappointed," added Burke.
"I would say we will either be back to Deauville for the Morny or the Gimcrack next. I will have a chat with Sheikh Obaid [owner] and see which way he wants to go.
"He will be home tomorrow and as long as he is OK I think he deserves a crack at a Group One, but if we are not sure then the Gimcrack is another obvious race."
Bought for 56,000 guineas as a foal, Elite Status achieved 325,000 guineas when returning to the sales ring for the 2022 October Yearling Sale (Book 2). A son of Havana Grey, the colt is the first foal out of three-time winner Dotted Swiss (Swiss Spirit) who showed her best form over five and six furlongs. Second dam Luxuria is a half-sister to another Listed National Stakes winner in Sweepstake, who has produced two very familiar names – multiple Group winner Broome and speedy juvenile Point Lonsdale, with the pair continuing to race at the top level as older horses.
Elite Status' dam Dotted Swiss was sent to Havana Grey again in 2021. Her second foal was purchased for 82,000 guineas at the 2022 December Foal Sale by JC Bloodstock, who had also bought Elite Status at the same sale.