Almaqam made all the running under Oisin Murphy as he sunk the previously unbeaten Ombudsman in the Group 3 Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown.<\/p>\n
Ed Walker’s four-year-old was hampered in the Gordon Richards Stakes at the same track last time on his seasonal reappearance, but Murphy erased any more hard-luck fears by getting his mount quickly away from the inside stall in one.<\/p>\n
The change in tactics worked a treat as Almaqam found plenty off the front end as he ran out a comfortable length-and-three quarter winner in great style.<\/p>\n
It could be the platform to a tilt at the top level and Paddy Power cut the son of Lope De Vega to 8\/1 (from 14\/1) for the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over 10 furlongs at Royal Ascot.<\/p>\n
Walker said: \u201cThank God. He has got a great attitude. Last year we had him in a lip chain in the preliminaries, but this year we took it off and he is just asleep and he is so laid back. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think that is what got him beat last time as he was still on his winter holiday. He flopped out of the gates and he flopped round and didn\u2019t really help Tom (Marquand) out. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe had definitely sharpened up at home for that run. I was worried about the ground as I saw the soft ground horses coming out this morning and I thought what do they know that I don\u2019t. The good-to-firm in there made me nervous, but I walked the track and it is good ground. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the Gosden horse loomed up I thought we are cooked here, but he was really tough and he stays well. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a big day for him, and my team, and myself as we have all believed a lot in this horse. We skipped a couple of Group Ones at the weekend to come here and get the job done and thank God he did.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Almaqam was cut for the Prince Of Wales’s at Royal Ascot next month the Lambourn handler was looking forward to tackling targets later in the campaign with his new stable star. <\/p>\n
He added: \u201cRyan (Moore) said last year at Longchamp he would definitely get a mile and a half and I told him about his pedigree and he said maybe not, but Oisin said exactly the same that he would stay a mile and half.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have stuck him in the Arc and I\u2019ve never hidden how much I think about this horse. I think ground is absolutely key and it will be hard to know exactly what to do with him through the summer, but I think good ground is as quick as he wants to be. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe will keep an eye on it (Royal Ascot). I always thought the Champion Stakes would be for him rather than the Arc, but I stuck him in that for a reason as Ryan said about a mile and a half and now Oisin has said about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oisin Murphy said: \u201cHe gave me a really nice feel today. Ed\u2019s comments were that he is very relaxed and easy to ride. I loved his temperament. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe has run to a high level \u2013 Ombudsman is a fair benchmark. I didn\u2019t discuss it with Ed but I had a good think about it when Bolster and Ancient Wisdom came out of the race, I thought I might be able to lead and I was able to sort of dictate without slowing down too much.<\/p>\n
\u201cEd is right \u2013 there is loads of juice in the ground today and that is probably key as he is a big horse with big feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has a bright future provided he continues to get his conditions. I think that was a decent renewal of the Brigadier Gerard. Obviously it\u2019s a very famous race and the second was unbeaten. We were both clear of the field and I think they are two smart horses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the defeat saw Ombudsman lose his unbeaten status, a trip to the Royal meeting is still very much on the agenda.<\/p>\n
Thady Gosden said: \u201cIt was a very pleasing run. He hasn\u2019t run for over 200 days and he was giving three pounds to the winner as well there. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a little fresh early on, but he settled nicely and quickened up the straight nicely. Obviously the winner is a smart horse, but it was a pleasing performance first time back. <\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully he comes out of this well and is one to look forward to at the Royal meeting. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Prince Of Wales\u2019s Stakes is one option, but there is another mile and a quarter race. We will see how he comes out of this race and what the races are looking like.\u201d<\/p>\n
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