Almeraq Is the King of British Sprinting: Claims Third G1 of the Year at Ascot
The Shadwell superstar was unstoppable in the British Champions Sprint; Mount Atlas captured the British Champions Long Distance Cup
ASCOT, England (Special for Turf Diario).— Almeraq sealed his status as the undisputed champion British sprinter of the season with a victory as hard-fought as it was valuable in the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint (G1), contested this Saturday over 1200 meters at Ascot. The Shadwell representative, trained by William Haggas, captured his third top-level triumph of 2026, prevailing by just a neck over a formidable Paborus (Lucky Vega), who came agonizingly close to pulling off a major upset.
Sent off as the 11-10 favorite, Almeraq arrived following a commanding victory in the Sprint Cup (G1) at Haydock, where he had decisively defeated the same rival. This time, however, the race unfolded under much more challenging circumstances, forcing Tom Marquand to dig deep to secure the expected outcome.
Paborus, priced at 18-1, was ridden with supreme confidence by Danny Tudhope, who took full advantage of post position 1 to hug the far-side rails. That tactical move forced Marquand to alter his line and launch a chase after the leader, who appeared in full control with the wire rapidly approaching.
Yet Almeraq responded with a formidable burst of acceleration, narrowing the gap and wearing down his opponent's resistance in the final strides. Third, over three lengths adrift, came Division (Kingman), a stablemate of the winner, completing a stellar result for the Haggas stable.
An Extraordinary Recovery
Bred and owned by Shadwell, Almeraq logged his second victory of the season at Ascot, having previously claimed the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) during Royal Ascot.
With that victory, alongside his wins in the Sprint Cup and the British Champions Sprint, he capped a campaign that places him indisputably among the elite European speedsters.
“He had a lot of ground to make up, but he got there. The second horse ran extraordinarily well and finished much closer than at Haydock. Fortunately, not close enough,” commented Haggas.
The trainer also recalled the adversity the horse had to overcome after suffering a severe fall at York during 2025.
“He deserves to be considered the champion British sprinter. To win three G1s is fantastic, especially after that accident. He is a truly great horse,” he highlighted.
Haggas acknowledged that he remains unsure whether Almeraq will continue racing in 2027 or be retired to stud.
“I imagine he might go to stud at the end of the season, but no one has told me anything yet. So I remain hopeful of keeping him. And I'm certainly not going to ask!” he joked.
He also offered special thanks to Andrew Tinkler, who exercise rides the horse daily but curiously never attends his races in person: “He wasn't at Royal Ascot, nor at Haydock, and he didn't come today either. He's at home with his children. We have a lot to thank him for,” he noted.
Marquand Delighted
Tom Marquand was quick to highlight the winner's versatility, capable of performing at the highest level across wildly different track conditions: “All year long he showed he can run on firm, heavy, or good ground. In all those conditions, he felt like a genuine G1 horse. To win three races of this caliber in a single season, you have to be extraordinary,” he explained.
The jockey admitted the race proved far more demanding than the run at Haydock. “There he had beaten Paborusconvincingly, but he didn't have to make up ground on him. Today he still had a significant deficit to close with barely 100 meters remaining. It was much harder, and that shows his immense quality.”
Maureen Haggas also celebrated the triumph, emphasizing the horse's resilience: “I'm delighted for Sheikha Hissaand the whole team. Almeraq has had to overcome so much in his life. He is a fantastic horse. The softer the ground, the better he runs. He is a champion,” she stated.
Paborus on the Verge of a Breakthrough
The performance of Paborus earned as much praise as that of the winner. His jockey, Danny Tudhope, confessed that for much of the stretch run he felt confident he could pull off the victory: “We broke from post 1 and the plan was to stay on the rail. I've rarely felt as confident in a race as I did today. At 400 meters out, I thought I was going to win. The horse did everything right and still had plenty to give. We were simply beaten by an exceptional horse,” he explained.
Richard Brown, racing manager for Wathnan Racing, regretted the defeat while praising trainer Ed Walker and the horse's future outlook.
“I'm disappointed, but extremely proud of Paborus. Ed is doing a fantastic job, and I'm sure this horse will deliver a big win for us, quite possibly next year,” he stated.
There was also plenty of satisfaction regarding the third-place effort of Division, a 3-year-old colt who still appears to have significant upside.
James Doyle, his jockey, noted that he is finally beginning to better understand the demands of racing, while Haggasremains confident that his physical maturation will allow him to reach another level in 2027.
“He ran very well. He is still young, and I believe he will have a great season next year,” stated the trainer.
Yet the day ultimately belonged to Almeraq, who had to dig deeper than anticipated to capture his third G1 crown. After overcoming injury, adapting to diverse conditions, and taking on Europe's premier sprinters, Shadwell's star found at Ascot the definitive confirmation of his greatness.
Paborus forced him to lay down every last drop of effort. And Almeraq responded as truly great horses do: finding a way to win when it seemed the wire would arrive first.
ASCOT, England (Special for Turf Diario).— Mount Atlas completely rewrote the form book in the opening race of British Champions Day. Sent off at 33-1, the stayer trained by Andrew Balding produced a huge upset in the Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup (G1), contested over 3200 meters, thanks to an irresistible stretch run that delivered the most significant victory of his career.
The triumph bore the signature of jockey P. J. McDonald, who guided the winner with supreme patience, waiting until the final 200 meters to find the necessary opening before launching a decisive late surge.
For much of the trip, Queenstown (Galileo) had set the pace and looked poised to wire the field. The Ballydoylerepresentative, priced at 14-1, put up a remarkable fight, but had no answer once Mount Atlas found daylight and accelerated forcefully.
At the wire, 3/4 of a length separated the winner from Queenstown in second, while Highwayman (Persia King), winner of the St Leger (G1) and the 7-4 favorite, finished third, another 3/4 of a length back.
For Balding, who prior to the race had admitted finding a victory for Mount Atlas unlikely, the result carried a special feeling.
“P. J. gave him an absolutely extraordinary ride. We found the right gap at precisely the right moment. He is a horse that shouldn't hit the front too early, and everything worked out perfectly,” he explained.
The trainer also praised the stayer's ability to handle a distance that had still posed questions.
“Mount Atlas has an enormous amount of talent. We were taking a risk bringing him out to two miles, but he loves Ascot and P. J. rode him brilliantly.”
The celebration also featured a touching family connection, as the horse was bred by the trainer's mother, who was absent from the racecourse.
“I'm sorry my mother isn't here. She went to watch a hockey match, but she would have loved enjoying this victory, because she was the one who bred him,” Balding shared.
A Ride to Remember
McDonald uncovered the ideal scenario to capitalize on Mount Atlas's strengths, keeping him covered behind runners before seeking racing room at the decisive moment.
“Everything opened up exactly when we needed it to. He went through the gap and reached the wire almost before realizing what was happening,” the jockey recounted.
The maneuver demanded raw determination, particularly when squeezing between horses ridden by Ryan Moore and James Doyle.
“The gap was very tight, but he responded when I asked him. He put his head down and went through with tremendous courage,” he recalled.
The rider also highlighted his relationship with the Balding stable, expressing gratitude for the trust extended to him over recent seasons. “Andrew, Anna Lisa, and all the staff at Park House have been extraordinary to me. I think the best way to repay that confidence is by winning a G1 on Champions Day.”
For McDonald, who acknowledged being in the veteran stages of his career, the triumph represented immense personal satisfaction.
“These are the stages where you want to win. I have more years behind me than ahead, but being part of this team is something wonderful,” he noted.
Mount Atlas had shown steady progression throughout the season, particularly when tackling staying trips. A G3winner and a solid performer in the Lonsdale Cup, he arrived at Ascot with a solid foundation, even if he went unmentioned among the main market leaders.
His trainer had noted that the layout at Ascot might suit him better than York, having kept him fresh specifically with this race in mind.
The strategy paid off, and the horse responded with a performance that establishes him among the top stayers on the European circuit.
On the other hand, Queenstown confirmed his stamina and aptitude for marathon distances, while Highwayman was unable to replicate his St Leger triumph.
Joseph O'Brien, trainer of the latter, expressed satisfaction with his runner's third-place effort: “He ran well and had a very favorable trip. He probably felt the toll of a long season. We have a lot to look forward to with him next year,” he commented.
For Mount Atlas, the victory marked his maiden G1 triumph and confirmed the steady rise he had been promising for months.
A perfectly timed late rally, an inspired jockey, and a horse that delivered when it mattered most combined to produce one of the biggest surprises of British Champions Day.
Andrew Balding has found a new star among his staying division, while P. J. McDonald walked away with a victory that will long linger in memory.
