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 cleanly from the gates and set a brisk early tempo alongside Marvelman, but the real action unfolded as the race entered its final two furlongs. Paborus had been travelling smoothly when he entered the scene, yet the moment Almeraq, under the steady hands of his regular rider Tom Marquand, began to assert himself, the outcome was all but decided.
The 9‑4 favourite surged forward with palpable acceleration, pulling away from the field and eventually crossing the line four and a quarter lengths clear of his rivals. This win marks a striking reversal of fortunes for the William Haggas‑trained four‑year‑old. Almost exactly a year earlier, Almeraq endured a terrifying fall in a sprint at York, an incident that effectively ended jockey Jim Crowley’s riding career. "He’s had a lot of patching up since that York fall, but to see him back in top form and capable of a performance like this is phenomenal," Marquand said, noting that he had stepped in for Crowley when Almeraq captured the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Marquand added, "Jim Crowley, who has now taken out a training licence, is embarking on his next chapter, and this horse helped launch it when he returned at Salisbury in the spring. That was truly impressive. We all thought the ground might have been the factor that let him down at Newmarket in the July Cup, and he proved his mettle at Royal Ascot, but ultimately it’s all speculation." The victory also underscores Almeraq’s growing résumé. He is already a dual Group One winner, and his connections see him only gaining momentum.
"He’s an incredibly exciting horse to partner with and a fantastic asset for the Shadwell operation," Marquand enthused. Looking ahead, the logical next target is the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint at Ascot on 17 October.
Maureen Haggas, the trainer’s wife, hinted that the team may already be charting a program for the following season. "This was always his goal, and then hopefully Champions Day, but we’d love to keep him in training next year – you’d love to have him, wouldn’t you?" she said.
She continued, "What he did today was unbelievable, especially because he enjoys the ground. His Royal Ascot effort on a surface he doesn’t favour was already phenomenal, and now he’s got conditions that suit him, with Tom understanding his quirks. It’s thrilling. He’s a truly talented horse, and Ascot is the obvious next stop." Haggas, who was present at Ascot, echoed the sentiment: "I was thrilled to bits.
He won here on the fast ground during 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‑time Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold also weighed in, noting, "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 as Tom wanted. He settled at the rear, whereas at Newmarket he was too keen and saw daylight too early." Almeraq’s resurgence is a testament to the resilience of both horse and connections. After a near‑fatal spill that threatened to end his career, the thoroughbred has rebounded to claim top‑level honors once more.
The combination of Haggas’s training acumen, Marquand’s patient riding style, and the horse’s innate speed has produced a compelling narrative of comeback and excellence. Beyond the immediate triumph, the win adds depth to Almeraq’s pedigree of high‑class performances.
His earlier Group One victory at Royal Ascot demonstrated his ability to handle elite competition under pressure, while his recent Sprint Cup display confirms he can adapt to varying track conditions, from the firm surface of Ascot to the softer ground at Haydock. The broader implications for the Shadwell stable are significant. A horse capable of delivering at the highest level across multiple venues enhances the owner’s reputation and offers strategic flexibility for future campaigns.
As the season draws to a close, the team will likely evaluate options ranging from further domestic sprints to potential international forays, always with an eye on preserving the horse’s health and longevity. In summary, Almeraq’s dominant Sprint Cup win not only erases the memory of his Newmarket disappointment but also cements his status as one of the premier sprinters of his generation. With the British Champions Sprint on the horizon and a possible campaign next year already under consideration, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how far this remarkable horse can go.