'He's got everything you'd want in a racehorse' - will Ed Walker's patience be rewarded with Almaqam in York Stakes?

It must have been a long two months for those associated with Almaqam, whose ground dependency has forced his team to bide their time during the dry summer. A path back to the top, that is doubtless being plotted, begins with a world of expectation in the York Stakes. 

Almaqam beat Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Ombudsman with something to spare in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown when last seen. The Prince of Wales’s, and Eclipse he also bypassed, are the kind of races this colt belongs in on that evidence.

Ombudsman has since made hay in Almaqam's absence in those flagship Group 1s, picking up more than £800,000 in prize-money for connections with his efforts. 

Fair play to Ed Walker for trusting his gut and sitting tight as the signs were there from last season regarding the calibre of horse he had in his possession. 

Running on fast ground over a mile in the St James’s Palace Stakes last summer appeared to knock Almaqam back for a few months until Arc weekend, when he ran the final 600m of a muddling Prix Dollar 0.29secs faster than front-running winner Jayarebe, who was given a freebie. 

The pair were four lengths clear of the third and subsequent Champion Stakes winner Anmaat could muster only fifth. Subtly, it was a top-class performance in defeat from the four-year-old at Longchamp. 

The only feasible threats to Almaqam at York rest with the three-year-olds, none of whom are slouches. 

Green Impact twice beat Delacroix as a juvenile. He was being considered for the King George, a better race than this, after his Irish Derby sixth last time. 

Unbeaten and reliable two-year-old Bay City Roller bumped into Arc hope Daryz and leading miler Opera Ballo when running with credit on both starts this campaign.

Stanhope Gardens was a non-staying fifth after being rushed into the Derby on his previous outing and 1m2½f seems the right fit, with mixed messages surrounding the Epsom Classic form. 

Those three would all have solid profiles in an ordinary Group 2. Yet this is no ordinary Group 2. It is expected the patience Almaqam’s connections have exhibited will be rewarded here. What defines his season will be what happens in the autumn.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

'We've always thought the world of him'

Ascot’s loss is very much York’s gain as the exciting Almaqam, conqueror of subsequent Group 1 winner Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown, prepares to strut his stuff on the Knavesmire.

Trainer Ed Walker thought long and hard about running his stable star in the showpiece King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but settled for this Group 2 instead.

“It seems a long time since his fine effort from the front in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown, where he got the better of Ombudsman,” Walker said.

"That horse won the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, where the ground was too quick for Almaqam, just as it was in the Eclipse back at Sandown.

"We thought about running him in the King George and were tracking the confirmations on Monday. But we never really felt that was the right place to give him his first run over a mile and a half.”

Ed Walker: trainer of AlmaqamCredit: Edward Whitaker

Walker is hoping Almaqam can land a first Group 2 before stepping him back into Group 1 company.

"He's won a Listed race and a Group 3 so it makes sense to try to win a Group 2 before another crack at a Group 1,” he said.

"He's been ready to run for a while, but he remains in fine form, he looks fantastic and we're very happy with him.

"We’ve always thought the world of him. He’s seriously exciting and when you have high expectations and hopes, that's when the nerves kick in. It makes me nervous just talking about it. 

"Most of my best horses have raced at a mile or less, so he’s definitely the best mile-plus horse I’ve had by a long way, certainly as a colt. Dreamloper was a good miler, and Scenic is a very good middle-distance filly.”

Walker is adamant Almaqam will win a Group 1 before retiring to stud. "He’s very special and has the most wonderful temperament,” he said.

“I’ll be very disappointed if he finishes his career without winning a Group 1. He deserves a place at stud and people should breed from him because he’s got everything you’d want in a racehorse.”

What they say

Jack Channon, trainer of Certain Lad
He’s been in great nick for a while, but hasn’t had his favoured soft ground. I hope it doesn’t dry out too much up there. He’s a good old horse who should run his race.

George Scott, trainer of Bay City Roller
We've decided to take the plunge against the older horses as he will get some cut in the ground and he's totally uncomplicated. He's never been out of the first two in his career, but this is by far his biggest test. Ed Walker's horse is one of the best in Europe in the division and what will be interesting is how he stacks up against the two three-year-olds who have Derby form. We are cautiously optimistic.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Stanhope Gardens
Both York and a mile and a quarter should fit him well. He did stay in the Derby, but this is a good fit for the horse.
Reporting by Richard Birch

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