Almeraq evoked memories of the great Dayjur in the famous Shadwell silks to emerge as the sprinting star the sport was craving with a stunning display in the Sprint Cup Stakes (G1) Sept. 5 at Haydock Park Racecourse.
The William Haggas-trained 4-year-old, who served notice of his outstanding ability when causing a 25-1 upset in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) in June, showed a potent turn of foot under Tom Marquand to streak away from Paborus and last year's winner Big Mojo to win by a staggering 4 1/4 lengths.
In many ways, it was a miracle performance from a miracle horse. On this weekend 12 months ago, Almeraq faced an uncertain future after suffering a horrible fall at York Racecourse, an incident that ultimately caused the retirement of former champion jockey Jim Crowley.
Just a year later, the Dark Angel colt is a two-time group 1 winner after joining Shadwell's sprinting sensation Dayjur, the Sprint Cup's standout winner in 1990, on the Haydock roll of honor.
Shadwell racing manager Richard Hills said: "We rode him a bit differently and gave him a bit of cover and he was really impressive. He's had a lot of hiccups, he nearly fractured his skull as a 2-year-old and he had that awful fall with Jim last year.
"The road has not been straight, but we've always rated him as a very high-class horse and it's really good that he's been able to show it."
Almeraq was disappointing in the July Cup Stakes last time, but he proved a totally different proposition in contrasting conditions. The smallest Sprint Cup field this century was a bonus for a horse who understandably does not like to be crowded, while the rain-softened ground was a blessing.
"That was pretty unbelievable," Haggas' wife Maureen said. "I thought what he did at Royal Ascot was pretty phenomenal on ground that he doesn't really enjoy. But now he's got conditions in his favor and Tom knows him, and that was great.
"Fast ground going downhill was never really going to be his bag in the July Cup, but once you win at Ascot, what do you do? This was always going to be his goal, and then hopefully Champions day."
An open sprinting division in Britain now has a dominant force, with Paddy Power cutting Almeraq to 9-4 favorite (from 6) for the British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1) Oct. 17.
Almeraq has shown the characteristics of a true champion to overcome adversity on his way to the top, and it has been a concerted effort by all the team at Somerville Lodge, which celebrated its second victory in the race in two years after Montassib won in 2024.
Having felt what Almeraq is capable of on ground with some ease in it, Marquand is licking his lips about the rest of the campaign.
"He's a dual group 1 winner already and has gone from strength to strength," the jockey said. "The plan was to ride him more conservatively as 6 furlongs is a long way on that ground and I was always happy with him. He doesn't need the ground this bad, he just needs a bit of juice."
