Shadwell has announced that Almeraq, the highest-rated sprinter in Europe and emphatic three-time Group 1 winner, will retire from racing and join Shadwell’s Newmarket roster for the 2027 breeding season.

Almeraq’s triumphs included the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, one of the highlights of the international racing calendar, defeating an all-star cast of sprinters with a combined total of 18 Group 1 victories between them, including Australia’s five-time Group 1-winning sprinter Joliestar and dual Japanese Group 1 winner Satono Reve.

In September, Almeraq followed up with a resounding four and a quarter-length victory in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock. He left the previous year’s winner, Big Mojo, and Kind of Blue, a Group 1 winner and runner-up in the previous two renewals, trailing in his wake.

Then, crowning an extraordinary campaign, Almeraq quickened to a thrilling success on Qatar Racing British Champions Day at Ascot in the Group 1 Champions Sprint Stakes, defeating a high-class field of challengers.

He was awarded an official rating of 123 and a Timeform rating of 126, confirming his status as Europe’s leading sprinter.

Almeraq has also rewritten the record books and broken new ground, becoming the first horse to complete the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, Group 1 Sprint Cup and Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes treble in a single season. Furthermore, no horse had won both the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and Sprint Cup in the same campaign since his great grandsire, Royal Applause, achieved the double in 1997. Adding further significance to his achievements, he is the first colt to win three European Group 1 sprints in the same year since his broodmare sire, Muhaarar, in 2015.

Raced exclusively over six furlongs, Almeraq was a three and three-quarter-length winner at two on his second and last start as a juvenile and has since demonstrated remarkable resilience, returning to the track to win three Group 1 events after overcoming a serious fall as a three-year-old.

The now four-year-old is by the exceptional sprinting sire Dark Angel, who was champion sire in 2024. He hails from a top-class family for both elite speed and precocity. His dam, Manaajim, was purchased by Shadwell for 925,000gns and is a half-sister to Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes and Group 1 Flying Five winner Fairyland, as well as Classic Trial winner and Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas-placed Now Or Later. Further back, his third dam, Land Of Dreams, won both the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes and the Group 3 King George Stakes, and produced Dream Ahead, a European Champion Sprinter.

Shadwell will announce Almeraq’s covering fee in due course. Breeders will have the opportunity to view him during the Tattersalls breeding stock sales, with details to be confirmed.

Almeraq's trainer William Haggas said: "Almeraq has been a fantastic horse and we have always held him in high regard. He is a strong, powerful sprinter with an iron constitution. He has done remarkably well to come back from a horrendous fall at York and win three six-furlong Group 1 races this season, which speaks volumes not only for his ability but also for his mental strength and resilience.

“Combining exceptional speed with versatility, soundness and a lovely temperament, Almeraq has all the attributes to make a very exciting, successful stallion. Everyone at Somerville Lodge wishes him well.”

Angus Gold, Shadwell’s Racing Manager – “All of us at Shadwell would like to pay tribute to William Haggas and his fantastic team for the incredible job they did in bringing Almeraq back from what could easily have been a career ending injury at York last year, and turning him into the outstanding sprinter of 2026.

“On top of his natural class, he showed how versatile he was by beating the world’s best sprinters on fast ground at Royal Ascot in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, easily winning the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock on soft ground and then once again showcasing his toughness by running down Paborus on good ground in the Qatar British Champions Sprint at Ascot last weekend.

“His remarkable toughness and consistency, together with his outstanding looks, will make him a very attractive proposition to breeders and we are thrilled to add him to the Beech House Stud team.”

Mark Dean, general manager at Beech House Stud, added: "We are delighted to welcome a sprinter of Almeraq’s calibre to the Beech House Stud roster. He combines truly elite speed with a fabulous sprinting pedigree, and he is a horse who I’m sure will make a strong impression on breeders. Given his outstanding credentials, we look forward to discussing matings with breeders and exploring how we can best assist them."