Almeraq is now Timeform’s highest-rated sprinter, with his Sprint Cup victory awarded a rating of 126+.
He had scrambled home on good-to-firm going in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on his first start at Group 1 level.
But he has a flawless record on going softer than good since his debut, and he took his form up several notches to land this second top-level success in fine style.
The one-two-three from the July Cup and Commonwealth Cup were missing, and the second and third from the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee.
Effective on all ground
But the winner of that contest, Almeraq, certainly turned up, with his new rating of 126+ seeing him surpass Lazzat (124) as the highest-rated sprinter in Europe.
Timeform’s Andrew Asquith said: “Almeraq produced one of the best performances seen in the Betfair Sprint Cup for several years, seeing his Timeform rating improve to 126+, making him the ratings experts’ highest-rated sprinter in Europe.
“He’s clearly effective on all ground, but he is very much at home when getting his toe in, with his rating from the contest only bettered by Harry Angel and Minzaal in the race this century.
“He’ll head to Ascot next month as the one to beat in the Champions Sprint where there’s every possibility he’ll get his optimum conditions.”
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