logo
Walker on weather watch for Almaqam target

Walker on weather watch for Almaqam target

Glasgow Times08-07-2025
The high-class colt beat subsequent Royal Ascot scorer Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard in May, but the Lambourn handler has had to settle for the role of keen observer during the continuing dry spell, with Almaqam bypassing both the Prince of Wales's Stakes and last Saturday's thrilling renewal of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown due to fast ground.
'I'm just waiting for soft ground really which is a bit frustrating,' said Walker.
'We would have loved to have been a part of the Eclipse, although to watch it was pretty messy and we're kind of all dressed up with nowhere to go at the moment.'
Walker's weather watch looks set to continue throughout July, but he is optimistically hoping the end of the month could signal Almaqam's eagerly-awaited return, with the Sky Bet York Stakes on July 26 or the following day's Grosser Dallmayr-Preis – Bayerisches Zuchtrennen in Munich both options at 10 furlongs.
The son of Lope De Vega has also been left in the same weekend's feature King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, but his handler is inclined to wait until later in the season before stretching out in distance.
Walker added: 'We're looking at running him in the York Stakes which is a Group Two and all being well we could go there, he's also in a Group One in Germany over 10 furlongs the same weekend and we've also left him in the King George, so we're keeping the options open and tracking the weather.
'I think the King George may be the least likely and I'm not convinced I want to try him first time over a mile and a half at Ascot. I think I'd rather try it on a slightly more conventional flat, galloping track, but we'll keep the options open.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Field Of Gold headlines 11 possibles for Sussex test
Field Of Gold headlines 11 possibles for Sussex test

Leader Live

time23 minutes ago

  • Leader Live

Field Of Gold headlines 11 possibles for Sussex test

John and Thady Gosden's latest superstar colt has followed an almost identical path to his brilliant sire Kingman so far this season, with a narrow defeat in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket followed by devastating victories in the Irish Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes. Kingman took on and beat his elders for the first time in the 2014 Sussex Stakes and Field Of Gold is a 4-9 favourite with Coral to follow suit in the hands of William Buick, who is set to deputise in the saddle for the suspended Colin Keane. SUPERSTAR! FIELD OF GOLD ROUTS THEM IN THE ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES! #RoyalAscot — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 17, 2025 The Gosdens and owners Juddmonte have also confirmed Lockinge hero Lead Artist and while he is not expected to take on his stablemate, Juddmonte are set to field a second runner and a potential pacemaker for Field Of Gold in the form of Qirat, who has been supplemented at a cost of £70,000. Field Of Gold is one of five three-year-olds still in contention, with the other four all trained by Aidan O'Brien. The Ballydoyle handler has left in the French Guineas winner Henri Matisse, who was second to Field Of Gold at Royal Ascot, as well as Serengeti, The Lion In Winter and Exactly from his Classic crop, while he could also call upon talented older miler Diego Velazquez. The Harry Eustace-trained Docklands and Richard Hannon's Rosallion look set to renew rivalry after finishing first and second with only a nose between them in the Queen Anne last month. The potential line-up is completed by Carl Spackler, who was a multiple Grade One winner in America for Chad Brown but was beaten into sixth place on his first start for leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher in the Queen Anne.

Hope Queen is Sandown Star for Karl Burke
Hope Queen is Sandown Star for Karl Burke

South Wales Guardian

timean hour ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Hope Queen is Sandown Star for Karl Burke

A clear-cut winner on her Beverley debut a month ago, Karl Burke's Night Of Thunder filly was a 15-2 shot stepping up to Listed class in the hands of Clifford Lee. The Charlie Johnston-trained Jennifer Jane proved a tough nut to crack in front, but having initially thrown down her challenge against the far rail, Hope Queen was angled out inside the last of seven furlongs and picked up well to find a gap between horses and get up to score by a neck. Lee told Racing TV: 'I always knew I was going to there at some point. I was kind of locked up in behind horses wondering which was going to fade away and which one was going to keep going, but once I got a clear run I always knew she was going to gallop to the line. 'She's definitely not shy, even though she's a filly she's quite bullish in that way. 'After her first win at Beverley we knew she'd be a nice filly and it's nice to get a Listed win today. 'Off that run today I'd nearly stick at seven furlongs or go to a mile in these better grade races. She galloped to line nicely and handled the ground very well.' Publish is the new favourite for next year's 2000 Guineas with Coral after adding his name to an illustrious roll of honour in the Martin Densham & Peter Deal Memorial British EBF Maiden Stakes. Subsequent Guineas heroes Kameko (2009) and Ruling Court (2024) both made a winning debut in this race in recent years, while Nostrum (2022) and Arabian Crown also struck gold before going on to bigger and better things. John and Thady Gosden's Publish looked a winner in waiting when coming from an unpromising position to finish second to Pacifica Pier three weeks ago and went one better as the 4-7 favourite under James Doyle, leading for much of the way and seeing off his chief market rival Catullus by a length and a quarter. 'He obviously ran a nice race here first time out, he took a step forward for that, the second (Catullus) has got solid form and he won well,' said Thady Gosden. 'He's always looked a nice type, he's by Kingman and has a great attitude. He's got plenty of stature to him and hopefully he's a horse that will keep on progressing. 'We'll see (where we go next), he's done lots of growing, he's a big boy now and we'll see how he comes out of the race, but he might want a bit of time to develop.' Coral make the Juddmonte-owned Publish their 8-1 market leader from 20-1 for next year's 2000 Guineas, but Paddy Power and bet365 offer more generous odds of 16-1. The Juddmonte silks were in the winner's enclosure for a second time on the afternoon after Andrew Balding's Tarriance (5-2) denied Pendragon a four-timer in the George Lindon-Travers Memorial Handicap. Andrew Balding's Tarriance was making his handicap debut having won once and placed twice in three outings in maiden and novice company and the son of Frankel showed a willing attitude to beat 5-4 favourite Pendragon by half a length. Winning jockey Oisin Murphy said: 'He showed a very good attitude, we obviously went very steady. 'We got racing early, from the bottom of the straight, and I tried not to press 'go' and ask him too soon, but I liked his attitude and he's progressive.'

Hope Queen is Sandown Star for Karl Burke
Hope Queen is Sandown Star for Karl Burke

Leader Live

time2 hours ago

  • Leader Live

Hope Queen is Sandown Star for Karl Burke

A clear-cut winner on her Beverley debut a month ago, Karl Burke's Night Of Thunder filly was a 15-2 shot stepping up to Listed class in the hands of Clifford Lee. The Charlie Johnston-trained Jennifer Jane proved a tough nut to crack in front, but having initially thrown down her challenge against the far rail, Hope Queen was angled out inside the last of seven furlongs and picked up well to find a gap between horses and get up to score by a neck. Lee told Racing TV: 'I always knew I was going to there at some point. I was kind of locked up in behind horses wondering which was going to fade away and which one was going to keep going, but once I got a clear run I always knew she was going to gallop to the line. 'She's definitely not shy, even though she's a filly she's quite bullish in that way. 'After her first win at Beverley we knew she'd be a nice filly and it's nice to get a Listed win today. 'Off that run today I'd nearly stick at seven furlongs or go to a mile in these better grade races. She galloped to line nicely and handled the ground very well.' Publish is the new favourite for next year's 2000 Guineas with Coral after adding his name to an illustrious roll of honour in the Martin Densham & Peter Deal Memorial British EBF Maiden Stakes. Subsequent Guineas heroes Kameko (2009) and Ruling Court (2024) both made a winning debut in this race in recent years, while Nostrum (2022) and Arabian Crown also struck gold before going on to bigger and better things. John and Thady Gosden's Publish looked a winner in waiting when coming from an unpromising position to finish second to Pacifica Pier three weeks ago and went one better as the 4-7 favourite under James Doyle, leading for much of the way and seeing off his chief market rival Catullus by a length and a quarter. 'He obviously ran a nice race here first time out, he took a step forward for that, the second (Catullus) has got solid form and he won well,' said Thady Gosden. 'He's always looked a nice type, he's by Kingman and has a great attitude. He's got plenty of stature to him and hopefully he's a horse that will keep on progressing. 'We'll see (where we go next), he's done lots of growing, he's a big boy now and we'll see how he comes out of the race, but he might want a bit of time to develop.' Coral make the Juddmonte-owned Publish their 8-1 market leader from 20-1 for next year's 2000 Guineas, but Paddy Power and bet365 offer more generous odds of 16-1. The Juddmonte silks were in the winner's enclosure for a second time on the afternoon after Andrew Balding's Tarriance (5-2) denied Pendragon a four-timer in the George Lindon-Travers Memorial Handicap. Andrew Balding's Tarriance was making his handicap debut having won once and placed twice in three outings in maiden and novice company and the son of Frankel showed a willing attitude to beat 5-4 favourite Pendragon by half a length. Winning jockey Oisin Murphy said: 'He showed a very good attitude, we obviously went very steady. 'We got racing early, from the bottom of the straight, and I tried not to press 'go' and ask him too soon, but I liked his attitude and he's progressive.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store