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Almaqam "different gear" and primed for York on Saturday
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 22 Jul 2025
The four-year-old has been limited to just two starts so far this year, finishing third in the Gordon Richards Stakes on his initial outing before securing a first Group Three success when beating Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May.
While Ombudsman has since gone to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and finish a narrow second in the Eclipse, Almaqam has not run subsequently due to his need for a little ease in the ground – but conditions could be right on the Knavesmire this weekend.
Walker said: “I left him in the King George but didn’t feel Ascot was the right track in which to test him over a mile and a half for the first time against the Ballydoyle horses.
“At York the ground should be ideal, as well as the track and the trip. It’s the natural progression into a Group Two and if he wins well, I will throw him into the deep end and take him back there for the Juddmonte.
“I thought 5-4 was quite a punchy price and it mirrors his reputation being bigger than what he’s actually achieved in beating Ombudsman.”
Walker has high expectations for the son of Lope De Vega, who has won three of his eight career starts and counts a Listed triumph on his CV, as well as a couple of Group race places.
The trainer said: “I’ve always thought the world of him as he’s seriously exciting. My hopes and expectations make the nerves kick in as I think he’s very special, and personally I will be very disappointed if he doesn’t win a Group One as he’s got everything you want in a racehorse.
“I’ve tried to be responsible and not to get impatient, and hopefully his big time will be in the autumn as the Irish Champion is a perfect target after which we might look at the Arc. But 10 furlongs is where we are going for now.
“He’s certainly the best I’ve ever had so far, he’s different gear.”
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