Almeraq quickly put the disappointment of his recent Newmarket outing behind him by delivering a commanding performance in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park. The four‑year‑old, trained by William Haggas, turned the race into a showcase of his class, leaving his rivals far in the distance and securing a win by four and a quarter lengths. The race got off to a fast start when last year’s champion, Big Mojo, burst from the stalls and set a brisk early tempo alongside Marvelman.
The early fractions were quick, but the real drama unfolded as the field approached the final two furlongs. It was at this point that Almeraq, under the skilled hands of his regular jockey Tom Marquand, began to assert his dominance. The 9‑4 favourite switched gears, accelerated with obvious intent, and quickly pulled away from the rest of the field, cruising to a decisive victory. This win marks a remarkable comeback for the Haggas‑trained gelding, who suffered a serious fall almost exactly a year earlier in a sprint at York.
That incident not only sidelined the horse but also ended the riding career of his then‑jockey Jim Crowley, who later transitioned to a training licence. Marquand, who rode Almeraq in his Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes triumph at Royal Ascot while standing in for Crowley, praised the horse’s resilience.
“He’s had a lot of patching up after that York fall, but to see him back in this kind of form is phenomenal,” Marquand said. “Jim’s new chapter as a trainer is exciting, and Almeraq helped launch it when he returned at Salisbury in the spring.” Marquand added that the horse’s performance at Haydock was a clear indication of his improvement.
“We all thought the ground at Newmarket in the July Cup might have been the issue, but he proved at Royal Ascot that he could handle softer going. Today, on the slower ground at Haydock, he was simply unstoppable.” The victory also reinforced Almeraq’s status as a dual Group One winner, a rare achievement that makes him a prized asset for the Shadwell operation.
“He’s a hugely exciting horse to partner with and a fantastic addition to the Shadwell team,” Marquand noted. Looking ahead, the next target on the calendar is the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint at Ascot on October 17.
Maureen Haggas, the trainer’s wife, expressed optimism about the horse’s future, hinting that the connections may already be plotting a program for the following season. “This was always his goal – to finish on a high note and then aim for Champions Day. We’d love to keep him in training next year if he stays healthy,” she said.
“His performance today was unbelievable, especially on a surface he doesn’t usually prefer. The conditions at Ascot suit him perfectly, and Tom knows how to get the best out of him.” William Haggas himself was present at Haydock and could not hide his enthusiasm. “I was thrilled to bits. He won on fast ground at Royal Ascot, but today he looked equally impressive on slower going.
He settled nicely, accelerated smoothly, and will definitely return for Champions Day,” Haggas explained. Long‑standing Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold also weighed in, offering a hopeful outlook.
“Touch wood, everything goes well. He got the cover and the ground was to his liking. The gap came at the perfect moment and he took off. He beat a couple of very good horses, which proves that Newmarket wasn’t the end of the story for him,” Gold said.
“Everything unfolded as Tom wanted. He settled at the back, and unlike at Newmarket where he got too keen, he stayed composed today.” Almeraq’s resurgence is more than just a single win; it signals a horse that has overcome adversity, regained confidence, and is now poised to compete at the highest level of sprint racing. His journey from a near‑career‑ending fall to a dominant Sprint Cup triumph illustrates the dedication of his training team, the skill of his jockey, and the inherent talent that makes him a standout in the sprint division. As the season draws to a close, all eyes will be on Ascot, where Almeraq will aim to add another prestigious Group One title to his growing résumé, further cementing his place among the elite sprinters of his generation.