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.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Johnston can afford to dream of what might be to come with Lazy Griff
It was the second time this year the Middleham Park Racing-owned colt has found Aidan O'Brien's new mile-and-a-half star too strong, as the same two horses filled the same positions in the Chester Vase last month. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Lazy Griff – who got off the mark at the third time of asking as a two-year-old at Beverley – cruised around Tatttenham Corner and while his large army of owners will no doubt have been briefly thinking they were about to hit the jackpot, the winner was going away again at the line. Should he head to the Irish Derby next it would likely mean round three with Lambourn, but Johnston also raised the possibility of a return to France for the Grand Prix de Paris. Lazy Griff won a Group Three at Chantilly last year. 'We told as many people as would listen we couldn't understand why he was such a huge price. Lambourn was 13-2 yet this morning we were 100-1! It's safe to say the Chester form held up well,' said Johnston. 'I'm delighted, I'm surprised how well he handled the track because that was always my biggest concern because he's quite a heavy-topped horse and we felt if the ground wasn't as soft as it was he wouldn't be here. 'I said after Chester that Doncaster (St Leger) would be his place, but to run so well leaves us dreaming about the rest of the year. 'I would say it will be the Irish Derby or the Grand Prix de Paris. The Irish Derby would mean going into the lion's den I suppose, but it will be one or the other I would say.' Soumillon partnered Lazy Griff at Chantilly and did not need to be asked twice to ride him in the Derby. 'What a race and I was travelling so well, the whole race I was travelling so well and I was just cruising down the hill,' said Soumillon, who has still to win the premier Classic. 'This kind of track suits him and when I came downhill I was talking Mickael (Barzalona, on Midak) that there was nobody able to follow us, we were cruising. I thought at that point I would be able to win the race two furlongs out, then I took my time to come out, which I don't think was the best option. 'I maybe should have stayed on the rail, but the horse in front was so lazy in the turn I thought he would stop at a point, but he never gave up and went to the end. Rounding the bend I thought 'now I go and we will see' and for two furlongs I thought we will get the winner, but in the end he was too strong. 'I'm so proud of my horse. It's a great run and it's the same form as the Chester Vase. I was very surprised when I saw the odds in the paper this morning at the airport. I thought how can I be so high? For me it was a nice horse with a decent chance and finally he proved it today on the track. 'He would be able to make the German Derby, but I just spoke to the trainer who was asking me if he could go in the St Leger. I think that can also be an option, he stays really well. We'll just see how he comes back from this race.' He added: 'When my agent called me to say I could ride this horse I said 'let's go' straight away. I loved him last year and he did everything I asked. Mr Johnston's horses are really tough and that's what you need and this really feels like a winner to me. I'm so proud of the horse. It's a great result.' Joseph O'Brien was watching his father win the race for an 11th time, but the man who rode two of them, Camelot and Australia (the sire of Lambourn), was close to his own piece of history by saddling Tennessee Stud to finish third. He said: 'I'm very proud of him, it was a serious run and he came home strongly. I'm so pleased for the owners, it's very good to be placed in the Derby and he's an unexposed type from whom there should be plenty more to come.'
Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Leader Live
Persica pounces under unstoppable Moore for Diomed gold
Winner of a handicap at the Derby meeting last year, this time he was up in Group Three company, but that still represented a step down in class from his last race in the Lockinge. While many expected Richard Hannon's charge to make the running, Moore dropped him right out in last place and he came to beat Ice Max by three-quarters of a length as the 6-4 favourite, with the fast-finishing Docklands in third. 'He's one of those horses who's a pleasure to turn up to the races with and he's a good-looking horse who belongs to the right people and he has a chance in any race,' said Hannon. 'Knowing his owners they'll be thinking Japan Cup and Breeders' Cup and something in Australia, but being honest we've always been happy to ply our trade around this level. We might make the occasional jump up on the back of this which I think makes sense, but he has a chance in any race if he gets his ground. 'Ryan said he struggled going down the hill a bit, but I didn't have the guts to tell him he had been here last year and won!' Karl Burke was happy to see the runner-up return to form and said: 'He's run a great race and I'm delighted but he was probably in front 100 yards too soon. 'He is a one-paced horse and he gets the trip but I don't think he overdoes himself once he gets in front and he was ahead a good furlong and a half out. 'It's great to get him back and I think he would have probably preferred it even softer. 'I think the winner just outstayed us in the last 100 yards and he's a good horse. He's a very strong horse and he does need a bit of cover to get into a rhythm. 'Everything went right today baring the leader just didn't lead us another 100 yards and if he had done that I think we might have nicked it.' Meanwhile, all roads lead to the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot for Docklands after finishing second in the Group One last year. Trainer Harry Eustace said: 'It's frustrating because he's just at that level where everything has to go absolutely right for him, and it just didn't quite. 'He just got in a pocket and he doesn't quicken – he lengthens. The winner and the German horse (Georgraphy) just kept us in a bit longer than Richard (Kingscote) would have wanted, but I can't give any real excuses as they've obviously gone a nice fair gallop and everyone's had a chance. 'He's a legend of a hose for us and that's another good run. He'll definitely go back to Ascot for the Queen Anne as that's always been the plan, but this year it's a much deeper race than last year. 'It's probably the race of the week and he'll go there sort of 20-1, but he loves the track. He could run his absolute guts out and finish fourth.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Persica pounces under unstoppable Moore for Diomed gold
Winner of a handicap at the Derby meeting last year, this time he was up in Group Three company, but that still represented a step down in class from his last race in the Lockinge. While many expected Richard Hannon's charge to make the running, Moore dropped him right out in last place and he came to beat Ice Max by three-quarters of a length as the 6-4 favourite, with the fast-finishing Docklands in third. 'He's one of those horses who's a pleasure to turn up to the races with and he's a good-looking horse who belongs to the right people and he has a chance in any race,' said Hannon. 'Knowing his owners they'll be thinking Japan Cup and Breeders' Cup and something in Australia, but being honest we've always been happy to ply our trade around this level. We might make the occasional jump up on the back of this which I think makes sense, but he has a chance in any race if he gets his ground. 'Ryan said he struggled going down the hill a bit, but I didn't have the guts to tell him he had been here last year and won!' Karl Burke was happy to see the runner-up return to form and said: 'He's run a great race and I'm delighted but he was probably in front 100 yards too soon. 'He is a one-paced horse and he gets the trip but I don't think he overdoes himself once he gets in front and he was ahead a good furlong and a half out. 'It's great to get him back and I think he would have probably preferred it even softer. 'I think the winner just outstayed us in the last 100 yards and he's a good horse. He's a very strong horse and he does need a bit of cover to get into a rhythm. 'Everything went right today baring the leader just didn't lead us another 100 yards and if he had done that I think we might have nicked it.' Meanwhile, all roads lead to the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot for Docklands after finishing second in the Group One last year. Trainer Harry Eustace said: 'It's frustrating because he's just at that level where everything has to go absolutely right for him, and it just didn't quite. 'He just got in a pocket and he doesn't quicken – he lengthens. The winner and the German horse (Georgraphy) just kept us in a bit longer than Richard (Kingscote) would have wanted, but I can't give any real excuses as they've obviously gone a nice fair gallop and everyone's had a chance. 'He's a legend of a hose for us and that's another good run. He'll definitely go back to Ascot for the Queen Anne as that's always been the plan, but this year it's a much deeper race than last year. 'It's probably the race of the week and he'll go there sort of 20-1, but he loves the track. He could run his absolute guts out and finish fourth.'
