Group 1 Targets for ‘Different Gear’ Almaqam After York Stakes Resumption

[Wandering Eyes]

With the longed-for rain having arrived across Britain in the last week, Ed Walker has confirmed that progressive four-year-old Almaqam will head to the G2 Sky Bet York Stakes this Saturday. 

Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's colt has run just twice this year, notably beating beating subsequent G1 Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Ombudsman in the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes in May.

Walker said of the son of Lope De Vega, “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 2 and if he wins well, I will throw him into the deep end and take him back there for the Juddmonte [International Stakes].”

Now the winner of three of his eight starts, Almaqam also has the Irish Champion Stakes in mid-September as a major autumn target.

Walker added, “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 1 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.”

 

The post Group 1 Targets for ‘Different Gear’ Almaqam After York Stakes Resumption appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article