'The World Is His Oyster': Shoemark Joy As Almaqam Stars

Ed Walker has long sung the praises of Almaqam (Lope De Vega) and although the elusive Group 1 win took its time coming, it all fell into place for the stable star on Sunday as he bossed The Curragh's G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.

Making his seasonal return in the 10 1/2-furlong prize, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's homebred who had last been seen finishing third in the Champion Stakes in October was moved up to shadow the Ballydoyle pacemaker with Kieran Shoemark confident in his readiness. Taking command approaching the two-furlong pole, the 13-2 shot stayed on strongly to account for Bay City Roller (New Bay) by two lengths, with his own half-brother Saddadd (Pinatubo) 3/4 of a length further behind as the Brits dominated. Ballydoyle's Minnie Hauk (Frankel) was sent off the 4-6 favourite but failed to pick up and was only fifth, beaten a total of nine lengths.

Walker has always been mindful of avoiding fast ground with the winner, but the ultimate irony is that on this rapidly-drying surface he was able to record an obscenely rapid time of 2:06.80, by some way the fastest in the history of the race since it was upped from 10 furlongs and made a Group 1 in 1999. “We had vowed that this year we were going to be a little bit more bold with him with regard to ground conditions,” the trainer explained. “I didn't love the track when I walked it, it was quite poached and quickening up but it was perfectly safe to have a go. He's a big boy of 550 kilos and may just be coming into his own this year.”

Restricted to two starts in between his defeat of Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) in Sandown's G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes in May and his third behind Calandagan and that rival on Champions Day last term, Almaqam will be trading blows with the big guns on a more regular basis this summer. “Fair play to the horse, as he hadn't run for a long time and he dug deep,” Walker added. “I have banged on about this horse for long enough now, so it is great to finally do it. This is a seriously tough division and it won't be easy wherever we go, but hopefully this is his year.”

Shoemark, who was riding his first winner at the track, paid tribute to the handling of the winner. “He's been expertly-managed by Ed Walker and his team and is clearly improving with age,” he said. “He's a horse you have to engage early, if you let him drop out of the gates he never engages in the race at all so we have to get the revs up early.”

“He picked up, showed a wicked turn of foot and hit the line strong,” he added. “He gave me a wonderful feel and he's clearly a horse who is improving with age. He deserved that, he has a monster rating but was only a Group 3 winner before today. The world is his oyster now.”

ALMAQAM 🟡⚫️

A first Group One success under Kieran Shoemark in the @Tattersalls1766 Gold Cup 🏆@curraghrace | @kingsdownstable pic.twitter.com/M9FJRoyinr

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 24, 2026

Pedigree Notes

Unusually at this level, Almaqam's dam Talmada (Cape Cross) was responsible for the first and third as her year-younger G3 Gordon Richards Stakes-winning son Saddadd made the frame. Successful at Listed level and runner-up in the GI E. P. Taylor Stakes and G2 Middleton Stakes, she has also produced the dual Listed-placed Saleymm (Dubawi).

A half to the G2 Champagne Stakes winner Saamidd (Street Cry) from the excellent family of Sadler's Wells's champion and sire son Barathea and Irish 1,000 Guineas heroine Gossamer, her two-year-old filly Tarrjoo is a full-sister to Saleymm and her yearling is a full-sister to Saddadd.

Sunday, Curragh, Ireland
TATTERSALLS GOLD CUP-G1, €500,000, Curragh, 5-24, 4yo/up, 10 1/2fT, 2:06.80, gd.
1–ALMAQAM (GB), 131, h, 5, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
                1st Dam: Talmada (SW & GSP-Eng, GISP-Can, $197,094), by Cape Cross (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Aryaamm (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Zibilene (GB), by Rainbow Quest
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin; T-Ed Walker; J-Kieran Shoemark. €300,000. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Eng, MGSP-Fr, 12-4-2-4, $828,441. *1/2 to Saddadd (Ire) (Pinatubo {Ire}), GSW-Eng & G1SP-Ire; and Saleymm (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), SP-Eng & UAE. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bay City Roller (Ire), 131, c, 4, New Bay (GB)–Bloomfield (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). (€320,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Victorious Forever; B-John Connaughton; T-George Scott. €100,000.
3–Saddadd (Ire), 131, c, 4, Pinatubo (Ire)–Talmada, by Cape Cross (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin; T-Roger Varian. €50,000.
Margins: 2, 3/4, 6. Odds: 6.50, 7.50, 3.60.
Also Ran: Green Impact (Ire), Minnie Hauk (Ire), Edward Hamilton (Ire), Tiberius Thunder (Ire). Scratched: Royal Rhyme (Ire).