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Elite Status looks one of the leading contenders for the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes on Thursday of Royal Ascot.

Trained by Karl Burke, Elite Status has lived up to his expensive price tag, having been bought for 325,000 guineas at Book 2 of the Tattersalls Yearling Sales in October.

The two-year-old made a winning debut in early May over 5f in a Doncaster maiden on soft going before following up three weeks later with an impressive five length victory at Sandown Park in the Listed National Stakes on good to firm ground.

Karl Burke told Tattersalls: "Elite Status came out of the National Stakes well.

"We were confident going to Doncaster first time out and he improved again going into the National Stakes. It obviously looked a very hot race on paper and, if I'm honest I didn't expect him to do it the way he did, but it didn't surprise me he won.

"He has a great attitude; he's always had that great walk to him, as Havana Grey himself had.

"This colt has more scope than his sire and is a bigger model. He does his work, walks home, eats, sleeps, and that's all you want in a racehorse."

"I want to get him there in the best shape I can. If I do, I think he's the one they've got to beat," Burke added.

"You need everything to go right on the day. I'm confident he'll stay six furlongs and the way progeny of Havana Grey are training on from two to three-year-olds, I see him getting further as well.

"I see him as a six-furlong horse this year and who knows, we may be trying the 2000 Guineas next year with a bit of luck."

The stable enjoyed juvenile success at last year's Royal meeting with Dramatised (Group 2 Queen Mary) and Holloway Boy (Listed Chesham Stakes on debut). Elite Status is well-supported in the ante-post betting with the colt available at odds of around 6/4 for the opening race on day three of the Royal Meeting.