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 previous year’s champion, Big Mojo, broke from the stalls with speed, sharing the early lead with Marvelman, but the real drama unfolded with two furlongs to run. Paborus had travelled well when he entered the fray, yet the moment Almeraq, under the steady hands of his regular jockey Tom Marquand, began to assert himself, the race was effectively decided.
The 9‑4 favourite switched on, pulling away from his rivals with a burst of acceleration that left the field trailing in his wake, ultimately winning by four and a quarter lengths. This victory marked a dramatic reversal of fortunes for the four‑year‑old trained by William Haggas. Just a year earlier, Almeraq endured a terrifying fall in a sprint at York that effectively ended the riding career of his then‑jockey, Jim Crowley. The horse required extensive veterinary care and a lengthy rehabilitation period.
To see him back in peak condition, capable of such a dominant display, is nothing short of remarkable. "He’s had a lot of patching up after that fall at York, but to have him back in this form and capable of pulling off a win like this is phenomenal," Marquand said.
Marquand had stepped in for Crowley when Almeraq captured the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier in the season. "Jim Crowley, who has now taken out a training licence, has opened his next chapter, and this horse opened his own new chapter when he returned at Salisbury in the spring. That was pretty impressive. We all hoped the ground at Newmarket had been the factor that let him down in the July Cup, and he proved himself at Royal Ascot, but we’re still just guessing at the reasons." The win also sparked commentary from other racing figures.
At Kempton, Constitution Hill suffered a flat defeat while Pride Of Arras claimed the September Stakes, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the sport. Sky Sports Racing highlighted the day’s flat action from Ascot and Newcastle, while a broader racing round‑up noted that the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will be open to geldings from 2027. Hollie Doyle’s blog previewed the upcoming meetings at Ascot, Kempton and Haydock, noting Almeraq as the headline act in the Sprint Cup field.
Meanwhile, betting tips from Haydock placed Big Mojo as a strong contender to retain his Sprint Cup crown, and Sky Sports Racing featured a showdown between Francis‑Henri Graffard’s Drazinda and Armor Supreme. Marquand added, "He’s already a dual Group One winner and is only getting stronger. He’s an incredibly exciting horse to partner with and a fantastic asset for the Shadwell operation." Looking ahead, all signs point to Almeraq targeting the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint at Ascot on 17 October. Maureen Haggas, the trainer’s wife, hinted that they may already be plotting next year’s campaign.
"This was always his goal, and then hopefully Champions Day. We’d love to keep him in training for another season – who wouldn’t?" she said. "What he did today was unbelievable, and he clearly loves the ground.
After his Royal Ascot performance on a surface he doesn’t usually favor, he now has conditions that suit him, and Tom knows him inside out. It’s thrilling." William Haggas, who was present at Ascot, echoed the optimism: "I was thrilled to bits.
He won here on fast ground during the Royal meeting, but today he looked a great horse on slower ground. He settled well and accelerated beautifully. He’ll be back for Champions Day." Long‑time Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold also weighed in, saying, "Touch wood everything goes well – he got the cover and the ground suited him.
The gap came at the perfect moment and he took off. He’s beaten some very good horses, proving that Newmarket was a false alarm.
Everything unfolded as Tom wanted. He settled at the back, unlike at Newmarket where he got anxious and was too keen." Almeraq’s resurgence is a testament to resilience, expert training, and the synergy between horse and jockey.
From a near‑career‑ending spill to a dominant Sprint Cup win, his story encapsulates the highs and lows of flat racing. As the season draws to a close, fans and connections alike will be watching closely to see whether he can add another Group One triumph at Ascot and perhaps continue his ascent into the pantheon of modern sprint legends.