WE have a champion sprinter worthy of the title after the success of Almeraq in the sprint. This division has been lacking a champion, but with three Group 1 wins to his name this season, he is comfortably the best sprinter in Europe.

The key to Almeraq is getting him settled in the early part of his races. In the July Cup at Newmarket, he didn’t get any cover and pulled too hard before finishing ninth, but his three Group 1 wins have been achieved from patient rides where he has relaxed early on and that was the case here with Tom Marquand almost overdoing the waiting tactics.