Almeraq claims his second Group 1 win

Regular readers of Ahead On The Flat will be aware that Almeraq featured in the Top 40 Prospects in 2025. Having impressed when making a mockery of a rating of 90 in a six furlongs handicap at Ayr in July last year, the Shadwell owned colt suffered a horrible fall in a Listed event at York which resulted in Jim Crowley never riding again. William Haggas and his team have done a superb job bringing the four year old back and winning two Group 1 sprints in 2026. Successful in the Listed Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury on his reappearance, he then beat a host of high-class sprinters in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot. Below par in the July Cup, the son of Dark Angel bounced back in no uncertain terms outclassing his seven rivals in the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup. Always moving well under Tom Marquand, he swept to the front along the stands rail before pulling clear to win by four and a quarter lengths. While he handles a sound surface, he is lethal on slow ground. His victory provided the Somerville Lodge team with their third Group 1 win of 2026. 

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