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Almeraq was bitterly disappointing in the July Cup at Newmarket, but I think anyone judging him solely on that performance could be making a mistake.
Saturday’s Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock looks a completely different proposition.
The William Haggas-trained four-year-old had looked one of the most exciting sprinters in Britain when winning the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier in the season.
Then came Newmarket.
He finished only ninth in the July Cup, but there were legitimate excuses. He failed to settle properly without cover and the quick conditions and way the race developed did him few favours.
The significant difference this weekend is the ground.
Haydock is currently soft after substantial rain, with further rain having been forecast during the week. Almeraq has already shown he handles easier conditions particularly well.
That is potentially bad news for July Cup winner Comanche Brave, whose Newmarket victory came on very quick ground and whose effectiveness on genuinely soft going is much less certain.
For Almeraq, it could be exactly the opposite.
William Haggas has already described him as a definite Sprint Cup runner if the ground remains soft.
There was another interesting piece of information this week.
Tom Marquand rode Almeraq in work and reported that the horse felt in excellent shape ahead of Saturday.
Marquand also believes the easier Haydock ground will suit him and is happy to forgive the July Cup performance.
That catches my attention.
This is still a lightly raced horse with only eight starts behind him, so there is every possibility we haven’t seen his ceiling yet.
Saturday’s Betfair Sprint Cup is a proper Group 1 and Almeraq certainly won’t have things his own way.
But I’m prepared to forgive Newmarket.
The conditions at Haydock look much more suitable, the Haggas camp are happy with him and I think we could see a completely different Almeraq on Saturday.
