Conditions key to Almaqam aims
Always held in the highest regard by trainer Ed Walker, the Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum-owned four-year-old justified that faith at Sandown on Thursday evening with his all-the-way Group Three victory under Oisin Murphy.
'He's come out of the race really well, he wants soft ground so the plan is to wait for rain and to go wherever we can find it,' said the Lambourn handler, who could hardly be in better form at the moment.
Ascot in October could prove tailor-made for the Lope De Vega colt, while he is engaged in another huge event at ParisLongchamp, where he was a head second last year to the ill-fated Jayarebe in the Prix Dollar.
Walker added: 'Into the autumn we feel the the Champion Stakes is the perfect race for him really, although Oisin felt the mile and half might suit him and he is in the Arc – we'll see.'
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North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Classy Calandagan chasing Coronation Cup crown
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Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Classy Calandagan chasing Coronation Cup crown
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Spectator
17 hours ago
- Spectator
The racing victory I've enjoyed the most
Allegedly the most effective rain dance in the world is that performed by Native American Hopi Indians. The biennial 16-day rite conducted by the Snake and Antelope fraternities involves participants jiving around a column of rock in feathered dress carrying snakes in their hands and mouths. As our dry spring moves into what could be an even drier summer, the local shops in Newmarket, Lambourn and Middleham might be wise to stock up on feathers and plastic reptiles. Fortunately, before Sandown's key evening meeting last Thursday there had been just enough precipitation to take the sting out of the ground and embolden trainer Ed Walker to run his talented Almaqam, an entry in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in the feature event, the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Walker confessed: 'I've never hidden what I thought about this horse but ground is the absolute key. You can tee yourself up for a big fall. We skipped a couple of Group 1s the previous weekend to come here and get the job done, get him back to winning ways. I was worried when I saw the soft-ground horses coming out. I thought 'What do they know that I don't?' It made me nervous.' The four-year-old showed his quality in fending off the Godolphin-owned and John and Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman who was previously unbeaten in four races. Although he could race at Ascot should it suddenly turn soft, Almaqam's targets are likely to remain in the autumn. Says Walker: 'I won't be lured into the big races if they are on quick ground.' The Upper Lambourn trainer has certainly got his team in good order.
