Almaqam announced himself as a potential disruptor to an already scintillating middle-distance division as he got his campaign off to a magnificent start with a decisive success in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) May 24 under Kieran Shoemark, giving Ed Walker an unforgettable first winner in Ireland.
It was a fabulous training performance from Walker given the winner was the only contender in the seven-runner field not to have had a pipe-opener before what looked like a very tall order, particularly with the looming presence of dual Oaks winner and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) runner-up Minnie Hauk.
The form of his third-placed finish behind Calandagan in last year's Champion Stakes (G1) would have put him in with a sporting chance of becoming the first British-trained winner since Alenquer in 2022, but he bettered that with a power-packed 2-length victory over the George Scott-trained Bay City Roller. Saddadd completed the overseas domination in third for Roger Varian.
Connections were careful in picking their battles last year, with his sole win as a 4-year-old coming in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3), and they look poised to reap the benefits of their patient approach this season.
Given the strapping son of Lope de Vega now flexes like the finished article, the sky's the limit and the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) is a potential next step.
"People are probably bored of hearing of me talking so highly of him and not producing, but hopefully this is his year and we can aim high now," said Walker. "It's a seriously tough division with Calandagan, Daryz, and Ombudsman, but he's bagged a big one now and hopefully there's more to come.
"We kind of vowed with the Sheikh Ahmed team that we were going to be a little more bold with him this year with regards to ground conditions. Last year, we tip-toed around and it was a really dry summer and he was big, heavy, immature horse. He's older now and I think we can afford to be a bit bolder with ground.
"You've got Ascot and the Eclipse. We've beaten Ombudsman once before. He obviously had a penalty that day and it was his first run of the year. He then beat us at Ascot, as did Calandagan. But this horse is a big boy, he weighed 550 kilos when he left home. He may just be coming into his own."
For Shoemark, this might have felt a bit redemptive given he was on the receiving end of some arguably unfair pelters when he was second on Emily Upjohn in the Pretty Polly Stakes (G1) on one of his few previous forays to the Curragh two years ago.
However, he has proved nothing if not resolute in the face of adversity and has proven again he is well capable of delivering on the big occasion. Breaking from stall seven, the pair did not get away very cleanly but he soon hurried his mount up to track pacemaker Edward Hamilton in second.
He quickly took over approaching the 2-furlong pole with a smart turn of foot and while Bay City Roller matched his initial explosiveness, the winner had another gear to click into close home to record a straightforward success.
"He's so laid-back and I thought Kieran gave him an absolute peach," added Walker. "Fair play to the horse, he dug deep first time out and he hasn't run for a long time. It's a real sigh of relief because I've banged on about him for long enough now, so it's great to finally do it."
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