a day ago
Ed Walker targets Prix Foy with Almaqam
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.
Almaqam stays on strongly to land our feature event of the evening, the G3 @StarSports_Bet Brigadier Gerard Stakes for @edwalkerracing 🏆
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) May 29, 2025
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 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.
