Walker on weather watch for Almaqam target
'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.'
🥊 Almaqam vs Ombudsman!
Classy performance from Almaqam to land the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes @edwalkerracing | @oismurphy | @Sandownpark | @StarSports_Bet pic.twitter.com/4IZPZgd8xq
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 29, 2025
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
12 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Jel Pepper among strong British contingent in Ballyhane Stakes
The winner gave that form a significant boost by following up in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood on Tuesday and connections of Jel Pepper are expecting a bold showing from their charge in Monday's €200,000 feature in County Kildare. 'Jel Pepper is a good horse who ran very well in the July Stakes and we have missed Goodwood with him to go to Naas,' said Oliver Cole. 'It is great prize money and I believe the ground will be on the easy side of good which will play to his strengths as he likes a bit of a cut in the ground. 'It is quite daunting coming to Ireland because there are so many good horses but these races are fantastic and it is brilliant to have a horse good enough to take part.' Jel Pepper is one of five British-trained contenders along with Richard Fahey's Cosmic Clarets, the George Scott-trained Front Line Fury and Kevin Ryan's pair of Tropical Dreamer and There's A Chance. Scott's contender missed out on a hat-trick when denied by a head at Ascot last time, but the Newmarket handler has plenty of belief in his solid operator ahead of this raiding mission. He said: 'He's a really dependable two-year-old who just turns up runs his race and always seems to be improving. 'I'm really pleased with him and he's taken another step forward since Ascot where he was very much a sitting duck. 'We think we are well drawn but you never quite know and I guess it will depend on where the pace and quality in the race is. I think he will go and run his usual solid race and will be there and thereabouts at the finish. 'He arguably has to come forward again from what he's shown but he's a tough horse and really cool and I'm very fond of him.' The home team is headed by Joseph O'Brien's Prix Robert Papin winner Green Sense.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Two Tribes caps glorious training performance by Richard Spencer to win the Stewards' Cup
Two Tribes capped a fabulous training performance by Richard Spencer in defying a penalty to win the feature race on the final day at Glorious Goodwood, the Coral Stewards' Cup. With the stands side favoured the four-year-old, who was drawn in stall 25 of 28, got a dream run under David Egan. Always travelling, his pilot had him clear of trouble and he kicked on for a decisive two-length success, defying the penalty he'd earned for last week's Ascot win. Seven days ago he had won over a stiff enough 7f at the Berkshire track on ground described as good. The softer ground here probably helped him, in that it made the race a greater test of stamina than perhaps might have been the case on quick ground. In addition to the winner, Spencer also saddled fourth-placed Run Boy Run, who came from stall 19 and fifth-placed Twilight Calls (stall 11), who his trainer said he felt would have finished closer had he had a high draw. When the field split, he'd gone with the far side group. A cock-a-hoop Spencer admitted that he'd nearly swerved the race with Two Tribes after last week's exertions: 'It was just the way he came out of that race and the fact that he got in here under his penalty. 'He didn't have a saddle on his back until Wednesday and Danny who rides him out at home said he was fresh and well and I was happy with what I was seeing. He's done very little from Wednesday until today but we had to have a go. 'Today the ground was a bit easier and it's probably brought out a test of stamina and David seems to have a great tune out of him both last week and this week. He's jumped and travelled. He's actually laying up with Run Boy Run and I thought they were going quick enough because he's no slouch and he did well to finish fourth, so it was great. 'I thought they'd be bang close. I thought all three had really good each-way chances. I couldn't really split 'em. On the back of last week you always worry is it going to be too soon but it wasn't. I'm dying to get Run Boy Run back to six with the visors on and Twilight Calls... he will win a big one. He was drawn on the wrong side today and he's done well to finish where he did.' Earlier, Al Aawy got favourite backers off to a flying start (13.20). The first of a quickfire double for trainer William Haggas, he was held up by Jim Crowley, travelling smoothly throughout before asserting down the home straight to win by three lengths. That made it back-to-back wins in the Group 3 Glorious Stakes for him. A delighted Haggas said: 'Isn't Al Aasy marvellous? He is a fabulous horse. He is pretty reliable in this grade when things set up like that. They didn't go very fast today and he usually likes a stronger pace. But they picked up well up the straight, he still found a gear and actually ran on strongly today. Usually, he wins by half a length or a neck. 'He has been called some names. I just wish people would respect him for what he is. He is a very talented horse. You need to wait, and wait, and wait some more if you can. I think he enjoyed a bit of cut in the ground today as well.' Sam Hawkens set for trip Down Under The first of the day's tricky contest, the Coral Summer Handicap (13.55) saw Haggas-trained Sam Hawkens produced beautifully by Tom Marquand to become another winning favourite. Aeronautic ran up there in the vanguard throughout and travelled as well as anything through the first mile and a half. He looked to be in the best position, with plenty having won from the front during the week. However, when push came to shove, he was unable to quicken as well as either Dancing In Paris, who finished second, or the winner. Haggas, who owns the winner with his wife Maureen, said: 'My mother owned Silver Buck. He was a wonderful horse and she left the colours to me when she passed away. 'Our son Sam wanted us to buy Sam Hawkens in an online sale last year and I thought he'd made a mistake – we bought him and I didn't really like him, so I never sold him. 'Since we gelded him in the winter, he has taken a bit of time. He has a lovely girl, Michaela Weld, who rides him every day and absolutely adores him, and the horse has really thrived. 'He is obviously in good form and on good terms with himself. He went to Newcastle and won, he went to Hamilton and won, and he's come to a big race today and won, so it's great. 'I have something in mind, yes, I think it's at Rosehill. We have booked a place in quarantine on September 5, and the race is on October 18, so I think we'll go now. He will probably race for us, but he might not be owned by me!' Waardah wins battle royal in Lille Langtry Stakes There was a cracking renewal of the Group 2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes (14.30), where the fillies and mares took centre stage. The 1m6f trip was clearly a step up that was relished by the Owen Burrows-trained Waardah. Travelling well off the pace, the winner had the game Danielle and the improving Irish filly Goodie Two Shoes, as well as leader Allonsy, in her sights throughout. The leaders got racing quite early but Callum Rodriguez sat tight and once Danielle had seen off the remainder, he produced Waardah down the outside. The pair then had a real set-to throughout the final furlong, drawing clear of the field, with Waardah eventually get up by three parts of a length. Burrows said: 'Callum said Waardah switched off great, and in hindsight, he probably got there a little bit too soon, but we are still learning about her. She is inexperienced but very honest. "I thought when the runner-up came to her, she was going to get outstayed, but in the last half furlong she was probably going away again. She will have no trouble going back to a mile and a half either, so she is an exciting filly. 'She has always shown up well at home, so it was no surprise she won first time up, even though it was only a four-runner race. We stepped her up into Listed class, but she didn't really handle Newmarket back then. 'I keep bleating on about it, but we could never get onto the grass to get some good work into her. She was a bit keen at home, that's why I ran her over a mile first time, I just needed to get that buzz out of her. 'She is in the Yorkshire Oaks, although I think it is important that she gets a little bit of juice in the ground. We will see how she comes out of this, but I think Ascot at the end of the year for the Fillies and Mares would be right up her street.' Mudbir continues to thrive with a win in the Whispering Angel Handicap John and Thady Gosden got what had been a relatively quiet day for them into full swing when Mudbir survived a stewards' enquiry to land the Whispering Angel Handicap (15.45). The Kingman colt, who is a sibling to two Group 1 winners, looks destined to be tried at a higher level after what was a third win from his last five starts. Having shown promise on soft ground on his debut, he won a Chelmsford maiden (1m, AW) and then looked suited when dropped back to a strongly run 7f at Sandown (good to firm). He showed improved form there when winning and defied a 2lb rise this time. He looks sure to go on to better things, while fellow Sandown winner Dance In The Storm lost no caste in defeat. The winner was the second leg of a double on the day for jockey Jim Crowley and a 100th Goodwood winner for the former champion. Aidan O'Brien is never too far from the winners' enclosure and he hit the mark again with Isaac Newton (16.20). Partnered by Ryan Moore, he always had the leaders in his sights, his pilot giving him plenty of time to line them up and take aim. His promising debut effort, which appeared to have taken connections slightly by surprise, was proved to be no fluke, as he came there with a sustained run to scored by three-quarters of a length from Evanesco.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool legend Michael Owen sparks fashion debate after wearing no socks to Goodwood
The ex-Liverpool and England striker enjoyed a brilliant week at Goodwood's festival of horse racing, with Seagulls Eleven winning for an ownership group led by his former teammate James Milner Liverpool legend Michael Owen has sparked a fashion debate by not wearing socks to Goodwood races. The former star footballer was at the track this week to cheer on horses trained by the boss of his Manor House Stables, Hugo Palmer. And they were in luck on Friday, when Seagulls Eleven (11-4) carried the colours of a group of Brighton FC players to victory in the Group Three Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes. But Owen was not just talking horses during the five-day festival of racing, as his footwear choice was up for discussion. "He's not wearing socks. He should have his feet cut off and shouldn't be allowed on the racecourse!" smiled Palmer on Racing TV, when Owen sported a pair of beige shoes earlier on in the week. "I was stood here not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Am I right or wrong?!" Owen responded. After seeing the clip, racing fans had their say on the issue, which caused much debate during Royal Ascot week. "Hey who cares, Michael looks very smart, good on ya!" one wrote on social media. "You don't wear socks with loafers. Good job you listened to your daughter," another added. But a third posted an unhappy emoji, writing: "No socks!!!" Men arriving without socks at the royal meeting in Berkshire were told that they had to buy them if they did not have any. Royal Enclosure rules state that they must wear a jacket, collared shirt, tie and socks, which should be covering the ankle. However the dress code for Goodwood is not quite as strict, with the website stating 'gentlemen (and boys aged 16 and over) are required to wear a suit jacket, long sleeved collared shirt and a tie, along with full-length trousers to all 19 racedays' in its premier Richmond enclosure. Owen picked a pair of blue suede shoes for Friday, when Seagulls Eleven struck for a team of owners led by his friend James Milner. Before the interview, when he told of his pride in the horse, presenter Lydia Hislop said: "We are just chatting about sock-gate from the other day when Hugo Palmer pointed out to Michael Owen that you should have your feet cut off if you didn't wear socks with shoes!" Owen said: "That's what he said didn't he and apparently it went a bit viral. I'm not sure whether it was my dance before you panned up for the reveal. You can see whose advice I have listened to, I have gone no socks again with a blue suede shoe today." Palmer's stable made it a memorable afternoon when Ardisia secured the Hawes and Curtis Nursery Handicap at odds of 20-1. The double came hot on the heels of two Ascot wins at Group Three level last Saturday, via Fitzella (Sodexo Live! Princess Margaret Stakes, 6f) and Cheshire Dancer (Longines Valiant Stakes, 1m). "That's three Group winners in six days for the yard so we are absolutely thrilled," Owen added. "I'm immensely proud of the team. "Everyone works tirelessly hard for moments like this. It starts with me having a friend James Milner, an old teammate of mine and he went to Brighton and I revved him up to buy a horse, another and another - now they have four with us and we have had a lot of success with them."
