Almeraq quickly left the disappointment of his Newmarket outing far behind, delivering a commanding performance in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park. The previous year’s champion, Big Mojo, broke well from the stalls and set a brisk early tempo alongside Marvelman, but the real action unfolded when the field entered the final two furlongs. Paborus had been travelling nicely when he entered the picture, yet as soon as Almeraq, under the skilled hands of his regular jockey Tom Marquand, began to assert himself, the race was effectively decided. The 9‑4 favourite switched on, accelerating with a burst of speed that left his rivals trailing in his wake, and he powered home a decisive four‑and‑a‑quarter‑length win.
The victory marked a dramatic reversal of fortunes for the William Haggas‑trained four‑year‑old, who had endured a terrifying fall in a sprint race almost exactly a year earlier – a crash that ended the riding career of Jim Crowley. "He’s had a lot of patch‑up work since that York fall, but to see him back in such fine form and capable of a performance like this is extraordinary," Marquand said. Marquand had stepped in for Crowley when Almeraq captured the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. "Jim Crowley, who has now taken out a training licence, is embarking on a new chapter, which is incredibly exciting, and this horse opened his own new chapter when he returned at Salisbury in the spring.
That was a very impressive piece of work. We all thought the ground might have been the factor that let him down at Newmarket in the July Cup, and he proved his class at Royal Ascot, but ultimately we’re just playing an opinions game," Marquand added. The day’s broadcast on Sky Sports Racing also featured jumps action from Bangor‑on‑Dee, a discussion with trainer Francis‑Henri Graffard about his stable stars, and a look at Friendly Soul’s dominant win in the Prix Vermeille. In the lead‑up to the Arc, Daryz impressed with a commanding performance in the Prix Foy, while the racing round‑up highlighted Saddadd’s breakthrough at Group One level.
"He is now a dual Group One winner and is only getting better. He is an incredibly exciting horse to partner with and a fantastic asset for the Shadwell operation," Marquand concluded.
All signs point to Almeraq targeting the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint at Ascot on 17 October. However, Maureen Haggas, the trainer’s wife, hinted that the connections may already be plotting a program for the following season.
"This was always his objective, and then hopefully Champions Day, but we’d love to keep him in training next year – who wouldn’t want that?" she said. "What we saw today was unbelievable, and he clearly likes the ground.
I thought his Royal Ascot effort was phenomenal given the surface he doesn’t normally favour, so now we have conditions that suit him and Tom knows how to get the best out of him – it’s thrilling. He’s an exceptionally talented horse and Ascot is the natural next step," Maureen added. Haggas himself was present at Ascot and expressed his delight: "I was over the moon.
He won here on fast ground at the Royal meeting, but today he looked equally good on the slower going. He settled nicely and accelerated beautifully. He’ll be back for Champions Day." Long‑standing Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold 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, which proves the Newmarket run was an anomaly. Everything unfolded as Tom wanted. He settled at the rear, then at Newmarket he saw daylight and got too keen." Almeraq’s resurgence has been a story of resilience and careful management.
After the York accident, the colt required extensive veterinary attention and a carefully calibrated training programme to rebuild his confidence and fitness. The partnership between Haggas, Marquand, and the Shadwell ownership has been pivotal, allowing the horse to regain his competitive edge without being rushed back into top‑level sprinting. The Sprint Cup win also underscores the importance of ground conditions in sprint races.
While Almeraq has shown a preference for firmer surfaces, his ability to adapt to the softer going at Haydock suggests a growing versatility that could make him a formidable contender in a range of spring and summer fixtures. His turn of foot, combined with a calm temperament under pressure, positions him as a leading prospect for the upcoming British Champions Sprint and potentially for future international sprints. Looking ahead, the connections are likely to map out a campaign that balances high‑profile Group One targets with carefully selected prep races to maintain his peak condition. With the horse now a dual Group One winner, the ambition will be to add further top‑level victories, perhaps even a foray into the European sprint circuit beyond the UK.
In summary, Almeraq’s dominant Sprint Cup performance not only erased the memory of his Newmarket setback but also cemented his status as one of the premier sprinters in training. The blend of talent, experienced handling, and strategic race placement bodes well for his future, and fans will be eager to see how he fares on the grand stage at Ascot and beyond.