Shoemark relishing International challenge with Almaqam

Kieran Shoemark says Almaqam has every right to be in the ring with heavyweight Juddmonte International contenders Ombudsman and Constitution River, insisting the five-year-old has yet to reach his ceiling.

Ed Walker’s charge looks set to be pitched into what could be one of the races of the season at York next week and his rider believes that if the ground eases between now and the race he could still land a knockout blow.

“I think Almaqam will go for the International. He ran at Ascot in the Prince of Wales’s and ran a creditable race despite the ground possibly being on the quick side,” said Shoemark.

“He’s only had two runs this season and I always thought he was going to improve for his Tattersalls Gold Cup win.

“It is obviously a very competitive race, but I’m looking forward to getting on him.”

Almaqam was fourth in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and has seven and a half lengths to make up on winner Ombudsman, but on easier ground in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot last October the gap between them in second and third was less than two lengths.

Shoemark expects Almaqam to spearhead a strong Walker team at the Ebor Festival and nominated Never Enough as a lively outsider in the Gimcrack Stakes following a smooth win at Ascot on his second appearance.

“The horses are running well at the moment and Never Enough won a nice maiden, so they might be tempted to roll the dice and go for the Gimcrack,” he said.

Shoemark also pinpointed Time For Sandals for trainer Harry Eustace as a live one in the Nunthorpe Stakes, with last year’s Commonwealth Cup winner looking to build on a promising return to form at Goodwood.

The four-year-old was reunited with Shoemark for the first time this year on the Sussex Downs and rattled home to beaten just three-quarters of a length into third place behind American Affair in the King George Stakes, a run the rider believes puts her in the frame for York.

He added: “Her run at Goodwood was pretty good. She finished third and it was good to see her hit the line again.”