Latest news with #SkyBetYorkStakes
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Royal Champion too good for Almaqam in York Stakes
Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned seven-year-old started at 8-1 as the market revolved around Ed Walker's 6-4 favourite Almaqam. Lee kept his mount in a handy position and was happy to bide his time as the race developed, and though Almaqam did hit his stride late on he was no match for Royal Champion as he strode to a career-best two-and-three-quarter-length win. 'He's cantered round, they all seemed to be coming off it (the bridle) while he was still travelling well,' said Burke. Royal Champion puts the race to bed! 🔥 An emphatic winner of the Sky Bet York Stakes!🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @CliffordleexLee | @karl_burke — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 26, 2025 'Cliff said that's the best he's ever picked up and quickened. He was working nicely, but he always works nicely – I thought that was a massive step up on what he's done, they can't all have run bad races, can they? 'He was always travelling strongly and when Cliff pushed the button he just picked up. 'There are not that many races to go for with him, he's won his Group Three and you're always looking to step up. 'This looked a nice race, it's York and it's local, I was hoping the ground would be a bit quicker, but he's handled that. 'We were hoping for a good run. We've had winners (recently), but there's been a few just not quite going our way. 'We haven't had a lot of luck for Sheikh Obaid lately, so it is nice to get a Group Two for him.' Of next steps for the seven-year-old, Burke added: 'I'll have to talk to the owner and see if he wants to supplement him for the Juddmonte International after that performance, we'll have a good chat. 'He was second in Woodbine for Roger Varian (in the Canadian International Stakes), that could be a nice Group One to go for. 'He's a lovely horse and he goes on the all-weather as well, hopefully he's a horse we can campaign around the world. 'Why not go to the Irish Champion Stakes? He owes us nothing, but I'll have to chat to the owner.'
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Royal Champion too good for Almaqam in York Stakes
Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned seven-year-old started at 8-1 as the market revolved around Ed Walker's 6-4 favourite Almaqam. Lee kept his mount in a handy position and was happy to bide his time as the race developed, and though Almaqam did hit his stride late on he was no match for Royal Champion as he strode to a career-best two-and-three-quarter-length win. 'He's cantered round, they all seemed to be coming off it (the bridle) while he was still travelling well,' said Burke. Royal Champion puts the race to bed! 🔥 An emphatic winner of the Sky Bet York Stakes!🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @CliffordleexLee | @karl_burke — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 26, 2025 'Cliff said that's the best he's ever picked up and quickened. He was working nicely, but he always works nicely – I thought that was a massive step up on what he's done, they can't all have run bad races, can they? 'He was always travelling strongly and when Cliff pushed the button he just picked up. 'There are not that many races to go for with him, he's won his Group Three and you're always looking to step up. 'This looked a nice race, it's York and it's local, I was hoping the ground would be a bit quicker, but he's handled that. 'We were hoping for a good run. We've had winners (recently), but there's been a few just not quite going our way. 'We haven't had a lot of luck for Sheikh Obaid lately, so it is nice to get a Group Two for him.' Of next steps for the seven-year-old, Burke added: 'I'll have to talk to the owner and see if he wants to supplement him for the Juddmonte International after that performance, we'll have a good chat. 'He was second in Woodbine for Roger Varian (in the Canadian International Stakes), that could be a nice Group One to go for. 'He's a lovely horse and he goes on the all-weather as well, hopefully he's a horse we can campaign around the world. 'Why not go to the Irish Champion Stakes? He owes us nothing, but I'll have to chat to the owner.'
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Royal Champion too good for Almaqam in York Stakes
Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned seven-year-old started at 8-1 as the market revolved around Ed Walker's 6-4 favourite Almaqam. Lee kept his mount in a handy position and was happy to bide his time as the race developed, and though Almaqam did hit his stride late on he was no match for Royal Champion as he strode to a career-best two-and-three-quarter-length win. 'He's cantered round, they all seemed to be coming off it (the bridle) while he was still travelling well,' said Burke. Royal Champion puts the race to bed! 🔥 An emphatic winner of the Sky Bet York Stakes!🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @CliffordleexLee | @karl_burke — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 26, 2025 'Cliff said that's the best he's ever picked up and quickened. He was working nicely, but he always works nicely – I thought that was a massive step up on what he's done, they can't all have run bad races, can they? 'He was always travelling strongly and when Cliff pushed the button he just picked up. 'There are not that many races to go for with him, he's won his Group Three and you're always looking to step up. 'This looked a nice race, it's York and it's local, I was hoping the ground would be a bit quicker, but he's handled that. 'We were hoping for a good run. We've had winners (recently), but there's been a few just not quite going our way. 'We haven't had a lot of luck for Sheikh Obaid lately, so it is nice to get a Group Two for him.' Of next steps for the seven-year-old, Burke added: 'I'll have to talk to the owner and see if he wants to supplement him for the Juddmonte International after that performance, we'll have a good chat. 'He was second in Woodbine for Roger Varian (in the Canadian International Stakes), that could be a nice Group One to go for. 'He's a lovely horse and he goes on the all-weather as well, hopefully he's a horse we can campaign around the world. 'Why not go to the Irish Champion Stakes? He owes us nothing, but I'll have to chat to the owner.'
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Royal Champion too good for Almaqam in York Stakes
Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned seven-year-old started at 8-1 as the market revolved around Ed Walker's 6-4 favourite Almaqam. Lee kept his mount in a handy position and was happy to bide his time as the race developed, and though Almaqam did hit his stride late on he was no match for Royal Champion as he strode to a career-best two-and-three-quarter-length win. 'He's cantered round, they all seemed to be coming off it (the bridle) while he was still travelling well,' said Burke. Royal Champion puts the race to bed! 🔥 An emphatic winner of the Sky Bet York Stakes!🥇#ITVRacing | @yorkracecourse | @CliffordleexLee | @karl_burke — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 26, 2025 'Cliff said that's the best he's ever picked up and quickened. He was working nicely, but he always works nicely – I thought that was a massive step up on what he's done, they can't all have run bad races, can they? 'He was always travelling strongly and when Cliff pushed the button he just picked up. 'There are not that many races to go for with him, he's won his Group Three and you're always looking to step up. 'This looked a nice race, it's York and it's local, I was hoping the ground would be a bit quicker, but he's handled that. 'We were hoping for a good run. We've had winners (recently), but there's been a few just not quite going our way. 'We haven't had a lot of luck for Sheikh Obaid lately, so it is nice to get a Group Two for him.' Of next steps for the seven-year-old, Burke added: 'I'll have to talk to the owner and see if he wants to supplement him for the Juddmonte International after that performance, we'll have a good chat. 'He was second in Woodbine for Roger Varian (in the Canadian International Stakes), that could be a nice Group One to go for. 'He's a lovely horse and he goes on the all-weather as well, hopefully he's a horse we can campaign around the world. 'Why not go to the Irish Champion Stakes? He owes us nothing, but I'll have to chat to the owner.'
RTÉ News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Almaqam 'the best I've ever had'
Ed Walker is preparing to take the wraps off Almaqam in Saturday's Sky Bet York Stakes. The four-year-old has been limited to just two starts so far this year, finishing third in the Gordon Richards Stakes on his initial outing before securing a first Group Three success when beating Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May. While Ombudsman has since gone to win the Prince of Wales's Stakes and finish a narrow second in the Eclipse, Almaqam has not run subsequently due to his need for a little ease in the ground – but conditions could be right on the Knavesmire this weekend. Walker said: "I left him in the King George but didn't feel Ascot was the right track in which to test him over a mile and a half for the first time against the Ballydoyle horses. "At York the ground should be ideal, as well as the track and the trip. It's the natural progression into a Group Two and if he wins well, I will throw him into the deep end and take him back there for the Juddmonte. "I thought 5-4 was quite a punchy price and it mirrors his reputation being bigger than what he's actually achieved in beating Ombudsman." Walker has high expectations for the son of Lope De Vega, who has won three of his eight career starts and counts a Listed triumph on his CV, as well as a couple of Group race places. The trainer said: "I've always thought the world of him as he's seriously exciting. My hopes and expectations make the nerves kick in as I think he's very special, and personally I will be very disappointed if he doesn't win a Group One as he's got everything you want in a racehorse. "I've tried to be responsible and not to get impatient, and hopefully his big time will be in the autumn as the Irish Champion is a perfect target after which we might look at the Arc. But 10 furlongs is where we are going for now. "He's certainly the best I've ever had so far, he's different gear."
