Tag Archive for: Almaqam

Ed Walker targets Prix Foy with Almaqam

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Ed Walker is hopeful his patience can be rewarded when Almaqam puts his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe credentials to the test in the Prix Foy next month.

Held in the highest regard by his team, the dry summer and fast ground has rather curtailed the four-year-old’s progress since his impressive win over Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes back in May.

While that Sandown rival has gone on to contest – and win – some of the summer’s highest profile middle-distance events, Almaqam has only been seen the once since, finishing second to Royal Champion when a beaten favourite at York last month.

However, Walker is content to sit and wait for the right opportunity for his star colt to advertise his quality on his preferred going, now eyeing a move up to a mile and a half at ParisLongchamp on September 7 which could prove the catalyst for an exciting Arc tilt later in the autumn.

“He’s bouncing but it’s just a bit frustrating again that we can’t get him out and we’re just being patient and waiting for some soft ground,” said Walker.

“The plan at the moment is the Prix Foy and that will tell us if we’re going to have a crack at the Arc or not or head for the Champion Stakes.”

Almaqam was no match for Royal Champion
Almaqam was no match for Royal Champion at York (PA)

He went on: “I’m not sure if the ground may have caught him out at York last time really, as it was a very good performance from the winner. Probably the slightly drying ground and slick track just didn’t play to his strengths.

“He’s a hard horse to beat on soft ground so we just have to be patient.”

Almaqam is currently a best price of 50-1 for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with odds of 16-1 available for the Qipco Champion Stakes on British Champions Day.

Royal Champion too good for Almaqam in York Stakes

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Royal Champion was highly impressive with a decisive triumph over Almaqam in the Sky Bet York Stakes.

Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned seven-year-old started at 8-1 as the market revolved around Ed Walker’s 6-4 favourite Almaqam.

Lee kept his mount in a handy position and was happy to bide his time as the race developed, and though Almaqam did hit his stride late on he was no match for Royal Champion as he strode to a career-best two-and-three-quarter-length win.

“He’s cantered round, they all seemed to be coming off it (the bridle) while he was still travelling well,” said Burke.

“Cliff said that’s the best he’s ever picked up and quickened. He was working nicely, but he always works nicely – I thought that was a massive step up on what he’s done, they can’t all have run bad races, can they?

“He was always travelling strongly and when Cliff pushed the button he just picked up.

“There are not that many races to go for with him, he’s won his Group Three and you’re always looking to step up.

“This looked a nice race, it’s York and it’s local, I was hoping the ground would be a bit quicker, but he’s handled that.

“We were hoping for a good run. We’ve had winners (recently), but there’s been a few just not quite going our way.

“We haven’t had a lot of luck for Sheikh Obaid lately, so it is nice to get a Group Two for him.”

Almaqam was no match for Royal Champion
Almaqam was no match for Royal Champion (PA)

Of next steps for the seven-year-old, Burke added: “I’ll have to talk to the owner and see if he wants to supplement him for the Juddmonte International after that performance, we’ll have a good chat.

“He was second in Woodbine for Roger Varian (in the Canadian International Stakes), that could be a nice Group One to go for.

“He’s a lovely horse and he goes on the all-weather as well, hopefully he’s a horse we can campaign around the world.

“Why not go to the Irish Champion Stakes? He owes us nothing, but I’ll have to chat to the owner.”

Kieran Shoemark eager to seize Almaqam opportunity

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Kieran Shoemark is relishing his chance on the “very exciting” Almaqam as Ed Walker’s stable star returns to action in the Sky Bet York Stakes.

The 29-year-old jockey will finally get to ride the Lope De Vega colt after missing out on a potential link-up when he was suspended for the four-year-old’s Brigadier Gerard Stakes success at Sandown in May.

That form has been franked by the length-and-three-quarter second Ombudsman, who has subsequently landed the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and narrowly went down by a neck in the Eclipse.

Almaqam is the odds-on market leader for the Group Two contest and Shoemark is thrilled to have the opportunity on a horse he describes as the “real deal”.

“I’m really looking forward to riding him and I thought he was really good the last time we saw him at Sandown,” he said.

“I know it’s been a little while since we’ve seen him, but that has solely been down to the drying ground and it looks like he should get some easier conditions on Saturday and it’s great to get the ride on him.

“He looks very exciting and we all know the form of Ombudsman has stacked up well, so he looks the real deal this year.

Almaqam was a good winner at Sandown
Almaqam was a good winner at Sandown (Adam Morgan/PA)

“I got the call to ride Almaqam in the Prix d’Ispahan, but there were a few complications as I received a suspension for my ride on Luther in the French 2000 Guineas.

“Ed was umming and ahhing over whether to run Almaqam in that and when Sosie was declared he decided not to and headed to Sandown, where I was suspended so I couldn’t ride and Oisin (Murphy) picked up the ride. He’s not available this time as he’s riding in the King George so things have worked out and it’s good to finally be united with him and hope things go well on Saturday.

“He’s the best horse at Ed’s and I’ve been riding a lot for Ed and riding winners and when you build up that association, you always want to be riding the better horses in the yard.

“I had a breeze on him the other morning and he felt great. He’s extremely uncomplicated and you can see that in his way of racing and he looks very straightforward and it’s really exciting.”

Bay City Roller after winning the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster
Bay City Roller after winning the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster (Mike Egerton/PA)

Bay City Roller hopes to make a breakthrough as a three-year-old after two runner-up finishes in the Heron Stakes at Sandown and Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud this season.

George Scott is excited by the New Bay colt, who capped an unbeaten juvenile campaign with victory in the Champagne Stakes on St Leger day, and admitted his training ultimately forced his hand to move forward at the Knavesmire.

“I feel like he deserves to run in this race and I have been conscious to not run him with firm in the going description,” the Eve Lodge Stables trainer said.

“But I now feel like if we don’t take our chance on good ground, then we could end up not running all summer.

“He really has had an amazing preparation for this race and there really will be no excuses for him.

“We will give him some leeway as it is his first time against older horses and only second start at a mile and a quarter. You would expect he has got another 18 months running in these races against these types of horses and I’m sure he’s bound to acclimatise as he gets older and stronger.

“But in terms of how you want a horse to train, he’s been training perfectly and has given me no negative signs, so we’re looking forward to it.

“It will be fascinating to see him up against the horses representing the English and Irish Derby form and see where he lies amongst the Classic generation.

“Obviously then as well there is this wonderful older horse in Almaqam at the head of the market, who is arguably one of the best older horses in Europe, so we’re cautiously optimistic and it’s going to be really interesting.”

Stanhope Gardens before the Derby
Stanhope Gardens before the Derby (PA)

Stanhope Gardens, fifth in the English Derby, lines up for Ralph Beckett, while Jessica Harrington has decided to head to York instead of the King George at Ascot with Green Impact, who was sixth in both the 2000 Guineas and Irish Derby.

The Jack Channon-trained Certain Lad has course and distance credentials, Royal Champion goes for Karl Burke and Richard Fahey’s Ecureuil Secret completes the seven-runner field.

‘Different gear’ Almaqam primed for York return

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Ed Walker is preparing to take the wraps off Almaqam in Saturday’s Sky Bet York Stakes.

The four-year-old has been limited to just two starts so far this year, finishing third in the Gordon Richards Stakes on his initial outing before securing a first Group Three success when beating Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May.

While Ombudsman has since gone to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and finish a narrow second in the Eclipse, Almaqam has not run subsequently due to his need for a little ease in the ground – but conditions could be right on the Knavesmire this weekend.

Walker said: “I left him in the King George but didn’t feel Ascot was the right track in which to test him over a mile and a half for the first time against the Ballydoyle horses.

“At York the ground should be ideal, as well as the track and the trip. It’s the natural progression into a Group Two and if he wins well, I will throw him into the deep end and take him back there for the Juddmonte.

“I thought 5-4 was quite a punchy price and it mirrors his reputation being bigger than what he’s actually achieved in beating Ombudsman.”

Walker has high expectations for the son of Lope De Vega, who has won three of his eight career starts and counts a Listed triumph on his CV, as well as a couple of Group race places.

The trainer said: “I’ve always thought the world of him as he’s seriously exciting. My hopes and expectations make the nerves kick in as I think he’s very special, and personally I will be very disappointed if he doesn’t win a Group One as he’s got everything you want in a racehorse.

“I’ve tried to be responsible and not to get impatient, and hopefully his big time will be in the autumn as the Irish Champion is a perfect target after which we might look at the Arc. But 10 furlongs is where we are going for now.

“He’s certainly the best I’ve ever had so far, he’s different gear.”

Walker on weather watch for Almaqam target

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Ed Walker has a circle around the last weekend in July on his calendar, as his frustrating wait for suitable conditions with Almaqam continues.

The high-class colt beat subsequent Royal Ascot scorer Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard in May, but the Lambourn handler has had to settle for the role of keen observer during the continuing dry spell, with Almaqam bypassing both the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and last Saturday’s thrilling renewal of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown due to fast ground.

“I’m just waiting for soft ground really which is a bit frustrating,” said Walker.

“We would have loved to have been a part of the Eclipse, although to watch it was pretty messy and we’re kind of all dressed up with nowhere to go at the moment.”

Walker’s weather watch looks set to continue throughout July, but he is optimistically hoping the end of the month could signal Almaqam’s eagerly-awaited return, with the Sky Bet York Stakes on July 26 or the following day’s Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Munich both options at 10 furlongs.

The son of Lope De Vega has also been left in the same weekend’s feature King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, but his handler is inclined to wait until later in the season before stretching out in distance.

Walker added: “We’re looking at running him in the York Stakes which is a Group Two and all being well we could go there, he’s also in a Group One in Germany over 10 furlongs the same weekend and we’ve also left him in the King George, so we’re keeping the options open and tracking the weather.

“I think the King George may be the least likely and I’m not convinced I want to try him first time over a mile and a half at Ascot. I think I’d rather try it on a slightly more conventional flat, galloping track, but we’ll keep the options open.”

Almaqam plans on ice as quick ground scuppers Sandown run

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Almaqam could be rerouted to the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes or given a midsummer break, after being ruled out of this weekend’s Coral-Eclipse at Sandown due to unsuitable ground.

Connections were keen to have a crack at Saturday’s Group One feature, with the four-year-old having impressed over the course and distance when getting the better of the subsequent Prince of Wales’s Stakes victor and Eclipse favourite Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard in late May.

However, with the ground at the Esher circuit still on the quick side, trainer Ed Walker has elected to play it safe and with a line also put through next week’s Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, Almaqam will either head to Ascot on July 26 or be saved for an autumn campaign.

“It is (frustrating to miss the Eclipse), but it’s out of our hands,” said Walker.

“He won’t go to Newmarket next week. I guess he could possibly go for the King George, but I need to speak to the team and work out whether we go there or give him a break now and keep him fresh for the autumn.

“Everything is on hold at the moment.”

Ombudsman heightening excitement for Walker with Almaqam

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Ed Walker is looking forward to seeing Almaqam return to the track after watching Ombudsman frank the form of the Brigadier Gerard Stakes when dazzling in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Almaqam impressively made all at Sandown to see off John and Thady Gosden’s performer, but with Walker deciding to wait for more suitable ground rather than head to the Royal meeting with his talented four-year-old, the door was left open for Ombudsman to boost the Esher result. which now looks red hot.

“It looked a very strong renewal of the Brigadier Gerard, Ombudsman has come out and confirmed he’s a smart horse and hopefully we can do soon,” said Walker, who enjoyed a tremendous time at the Royal meeting with two winners and Do Or Do Not beaten only by Gstaad in the Coventry Stakes.

“It’s an exciting result to see for us, but you have to remember Sandown was Ombudsman’s first run of the season and he was carrying a 3lb penalty. He loomed up like he was going to be a threat and John and Thady will know more than me, but it felt like he needed the run slightly carrying a penalty on easy ground.

“It is exciting and I think we all felt at Sandown the first two were very smart horses.”

After quick ground scuppered any designs of turning up in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes for Almaqam himself, Walker is now left searching for ideal conditions buoyant he has plenty to look forward to.

Ombudsman was a brilliant winner at Royal Ascot
Ombudsman was a brilliant winner at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

“It’s all ground dependent and we will have him in everything and take our pick,” added Walker on future plans.

“He’ll be in everything at a mile and a quarter, but I wouldn’t rule out going a mile and a half as well. We have put him in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket (July 10) over a mile and a half, so we will see where the ground will suit.”