Trained by Julie Camacho, Shaquille made a taking winning debut in a seven-furlong novice at York in July and has made two subsequent appearances on the Knavesmire.
The son of Charm Spirit finished ninth behind Chaldean in the G3 Acomb Stakes after pulling hard but bounced back in a first-time hood to win a six-furlong novice in October.
Camacho's husband and assistant Steve Brown said: "Shaquille goes into this in good order.
"On the whole, we have been pleased with his two-year-old season and he is a horse that we think is progressive.
"It looks a tight race and there are one or two better off at the weights, but we would be very hopeful that he can give a good account of himself.
"He is a fine-looking animal and definitely has the scope to improve as a three-year-old, which we are mindful of.
"Win, lose or draw, this will be his final run of the year but it would be nice if he can give himself the option of the final in April."
Last year's winner El Caballo went on to win on Finals Day before taking the G2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock Park. His trainer Karl Burke saddles dual scorer Looking For Lynda, who counts fourth-placed finishes in the Super Sprint at Newbury and York's Listed Roses Stakes among several good efforts this season.
Former Juddmonte runner Flag Flying makes his first appearance for owner David Lowe and trainer Dave Loughnane. The Starspangledbanner gelding created a big impression on his debut at Goodwood for Harry & Roger Charlton before disappointing up in grade.
Michaela's Boy and Havana By The Sea both come into this race on the back of nursery race victories at Newcastle for Mick Appleby and Craig Lidster. The duo had previously finished fourth and fifth at the same course in this season's opening Fast-Track Qualifier.
Richard Hannon's contender Swift Asset scored at the second time of asking at Windsor before taking in some tougher assignments, including when sixth in the G2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Danger Alert has finished second in all three of his starts since joining George Boughey, most recently in a seven-furlong nursery at Wolverhampton.
Kempton Park nursery race victor Tenjin and Harry Magnus, who caught the eye in a Wolverhampton novice last month, complete the field for Marco Botti and Charlie Hills respectively.
