Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes |
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| Group 3, Sandown 19:35 £80,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 1f 209y, Class 1  |
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1 Almaqam 7/4
2
Ombudsman 5/4F
3
Phantom Flight 22/1
7 ran NR: Ancient Wisdom, Bolster, Persica
Distances: 1¾l, 4l, 1l Time: 2m 6.03s (fast by 0.97s)
How tough was Almaqam last night for Oisin Murphy? 💪
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) May 30, 2025
Really knuckled down for the scrap to win the Brigadier Gerard ✅
🎬 @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/DqDdUXsPcQ
Sandown’s terraces hummed as Almaqam seized control from the break and refused to relinquish his grip, scoring a gutsy Group Three success.
Ryan Moore aboard the previously unbeaten Ombudsman loomed ominously approaching the furlong pole, but Ed Walker’s game Lope De Vega colt simply wouldn’t wilt. Almaqam pressed on resolutely up the hill, crossing the line a length and three-quarters to the good.
Walker beamed afterwards:
“We all believed in him, but you never know until you see it. Skipping those Group Ones last weekend was the right call—he’s got the heart of a lion. He’s so laid-back; took the lip chain off this time and he was almost on holiday in the prelims. Today, he woke up just in time.”
The Lambourn handler admitted the sunshine surface had him sweating:
“I feared soft-ground types might relish it, but a morning walk showed me it was true good ground. When the Gosden runner came at us I thought ‘here we go’, but Almaqam’s toughness told.”
With Royal Ascot’s Prince of Wales’s Stakes on the radar, Walker cautioned that quick going could yet rule out the five-figure prize:
“He’s versatile, but ground is everything. If Ascot rains hard, we’ll rethink. The Champion Stakes always felt a bigger target, but thanks to endorsements from Ryan and Oisin, the Arc remains an option come autumn.”
Meanwhile, Thady Gosden was full of praise for runner-up Ombudsman:
“First run in 263 days, giving 3lb away, and he still quickened nicely. He’ll come on for this and has plenty of entries at Ascot—mile-and-a-quarter options aplenty.”
Brigadier Gerard Stakes
£80,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 1f 209y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1) Almaqam 4 9-2 Ed Walker Oisin Murphy 7/4
2 (4) 1¾ Ombudsman 4 9-5 John & Thady Gosden Ryan Moore 5/4F
3 (3) 4 Phantom Flight 6 9-2 George Scott Callum Shepherd 22/1
4 (10) 1 Military Order 5 9-2 Charlie Appleby William Buick 11/1
5 (7) ½ Enfjaar 5 9-2 Roger Varian Jim Crowley 7/1
6 (9) 8 Cicero's Gift 5 9-2 Charles Hills Jason Watson 14/1
7 (6) 4½ Aafoor 4 9-2 M Al Attiya Szczepan Mazur 200/1
NR 2 (8) Persica 4 9-5 Richard Hannon NON RUNNER
NR 5 (5) Ancient Wisdom 4 9-2 Charlie Appleby NON RUNNER
NR 6 (2) Bolster 5 9-2 K R Burke NON RUNNER
Recent Brigadier Gerard Stakes Winners
2024 – ROYAL RHYME (1/2F)
2023 – HUKUM (5/1)
2022 – BAY BRIDGE (7/4)
2021 – EUCHEN GLEN (20/1)
2020 – LORD NORTH (3/1)
2019 – REGAL REALITY (9/4)
2018 – POET’S WORD (4/6 fav)
2017 – AUTOCRATIC (8/1)
2016 – TIME TEST (3/1)
2015 – WESTERN HYMN (11/4)
2014 – SHARESTAN (5/6 fav)
2013 – MUKHADRAM (3/1)
2012 – CARLTON HOUSE (10/11 fav)
2011 – WORKFORCE (Evs fav)
2010 – STOTSFOLD (7/1)
2009 – CIMA DE TRIOMPHE (4/1)
2008 – SMOKEY OAKEY (20/1)
2007 – TAKE A BOW (11/1)
2006 – NOTNOWCATO (5/4 fav)
2005 – NEW MORNING (12/1)
2004 – BANDARI (7/2)
2003 – SIGHTS ON GOLD (7/1)
