Almeraq wins the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint (credit: Megan Rose Photography
Almeraq (11/10F) confirmed himself to be the best British sprinter around with a third G1 victory of the season in the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint.
Lining up after an impressive victory over Paborus in the Sprint Cup at Haydock Park, William Haggas’ contender had to work harder to beat the same rival this time after racing on different parts of the track.
Paborus (18/1) was given an enterprising ride along the far rail, forcing Almeraq to angle that way to launch his challenge, but Tom Marquand’s mount picked up strongly to wear down the eventual runner-up and win by a neck. The winner’s stablemate Division (17/2) was over three lengths further back in third.
Owned and bred by Shadwell, Almeraq was gaining a second success at Ascot this season following the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Haggas said: “Almeraq had a bit of ground to make up, but he got there. The horse that ran very well in second, who was well beaten by us at Haydock, got much closer but, fortunately, not close enough to us.
“He deserves to be [Britain’s Champion Sprinter]. He is a good horse and has won three Group Ones; it is great. He has come back from a bad fall at York last year. He is a really, really good horse.
“He must be the best sprinter here, I would have thought. I do not know whether he goes to stud at the end of this season – I would have thought so, but no one has talked to me about it, so I live in hope. I am not asking!
“We have to thank lots of people, in particular Andrew Tinkler, who rides Almeraq every day but will not come to see him run. He did not come to Royal Ascot or Haydock, so he is sitting at home with his children. Well done, Andrew.”
Marquand said: “Almeraq is the best in the division. He has shown versatility all year; good to firm ground at Ascot, heavy ground at Haydock, and back on good ground here. He has felt like a proper, proper top-class Group One horse on all occasions, and I suppose to win three Group Ones in a year at the distance, you have to be.
“He did have ground to make up, but Ascot is a very stiff track. He blew Paborous out of the water at Haydock, but he did not have to make any ground up that day. I flicked over on to Danny’s heels with two and a half to run at Haydock, whereas today he had the same amount of ground to make up from half a furlong out. It was a tougher job, but it just showed how good he was. He is real class.”
Maureen Haggas said: “I am thrilled for Sheikha Hissa and all the team. Almeraq has overcome so much in his life. He is a fantastic horse, he really is. Obviously, the softer the ground, the better he is, and you saw at Haydock what he can really do. He has massive feet on him. He is a champion.”
Danny Tudhope said of Paborus: “He was drawn one, and the plan was to stay on up the rail. I have never been so confident in a race like this; I was thinking I was going to win two out. He did everything right, and I had plenty of horse under me. He was just beaten by an exceptional one.”
James Doyle said of the third: “I am delighted with Division. Things have not gone too well for him this year, but he is getting the hang of it and, hopefully, he is going to be a decent sprinter next year.”
William Haggas added: “Division ran really well. He is only three; he will have a good year next year. It has been unfortunate, but hopefully he will have strengthened up by then.”
Richard Brown of Wathnan Racing said: “I am gutted, but proud of the way Paborus ran. Ed has done a great job with him. He is a tremendous young trainer who is doing a great job. He has a great team up there, and this horse should give us a really big day at some stage, hopefully next year.
“Division maybe has not had the rub of the green this year, but that happens. I think he is going to develop further over the winter, and hopefully he could turn into a top sprinter next year.”
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