Almeraq quickly left the disappointment of his off‑day at Newmarket far behind, delivering a commanding performance in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park. The race began with last year’s champion, Big Mojo, bursting out of the stalls and sharing the early lead with Marvelman. The early tempo was brisk, but the true contest only ignited when the field turned into its final two‑furlong stretch. Paborus had been travelling nicely when he entered the fray, but the moment Almeraq, under the skillful hands of his regular jockey Tom Marquand, began to assert himself, the outcome was all but decided.
The 9‑4 favourite switched on his afterburners, surged ahead of his rivals and left the rest of the field trailing in his wake, eventually crossing the line a decisive four‑and‑a‑quarter lengths ahead of the competition. This win marks a remarkable turnaround for the four‑year‑old trained by William Haggas.
Exactly one year earlier, Almeraq suffered a frightening fall in a sprint at York that effectively ended the riding career of his then‑jockey, Jim Crowley. The incident left many wondering whether the horse could ever return to his previous level of performance. Marquand, who stepped in for Crowley when Almeraq captured the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, praised the horse’s recovery: "He’s been through a lot of patching up after that fall at York, but to see him back in form and capable of a performance like this is phenomenal." Marquand also reflected on Crowley’s new role as a trainer, noting that the former jockey’s next chapter has been "extremely exciting" and that Almeraq’s comeback at Salisbury in the spring was a clear sign of his resilience. He added, "We all hoped the ground at Newmarket had been the factor that let him down in the July Cup, and he proved us right at Royal Ascot, but ultimately it’s all a matter of opinion." The Sprint Cup win also positions Almeraq as a leading contender for the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint at Ascot on 17 October.
Maureen Haggas, the trainer’s wife, expressed optimism about the horse’s future, saying, "This was always his goal, and then hopefully Champions Day. We’d love to keep him in training next year – who wouldn’t want a horse like this?" She continued, "His performance today was unbelievable, especially since he seems to prefer firmer ground. At Royal Ascot he performed phenomenally on a surface he doesn’t normally enjoy, so now he has conditions that suit him, and Tom knows him inside out. It’s an exciting prospect." William Haggas himself was present at Ascot and shared his enthusiasm: "I was thrilled to bits.
He won here on fast ground during the Royal meeting, but today he looked just as good on the slower going. He settled well, accelerated nicely, and I expect him back here for Champions Day." Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold, a long‑time partner of the Haggas operation, also weighed in: "Touch wood, everything went well – he got the cover and the ground suited him. The gap opened at the perfect moment and he took off.
He’s beaten a couple of very good horses, proving that Newmarket was a false alarm. Everything unfolded exactly as Tom wanted. He settled at the back, and unlike at Newmarket where he got keen too early, he timed his run perfectly today." Almeraq’s resurgence is more than just a single victory; it signals a return to top‑class form after a year of rehabilitation and careful management. The horse’s pedigree, combined with Haggas’s training acumen and Marquand’s riding tactics, has created a potent combination that could dominate sprint distances for the remainder of the season.
His ability to adapt to varying ground conditions – from the firm turf of Royal Ascot to the softer going at Haydock – underscores his versatility and adds to his appeal as a future Group One contender. Looking ahead, the connections are already mapping out a campaign that could include further Group races in the autumn, with the British Champions Sprint as the pinnacle target.
If Almeraq continues to progress, there may even be discussions about extending his racing career into next year, providing more opportunities for the Shadwell operation to showcase a horse that has already proven his class by winning at the highest level. In summary, Almeraq’s dominant Sprint Cup win not only erased the memory of his Newmarket mishap but also cemented his status as a dual Group One winner on a clear upward trajectory. His partnership with Tom Marquand, the guidance of William Haggas, and the support of the Shadwell family have all played a part in this remarkable comeback, and the racing world will be watching closely as he prepares for the next big challenge at Ascot.