May 29 / 19.35 Sandown

19.35

Good

Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £45368
  • 1m 1f 209y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Star Sports Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

1st
4 (1)
Almaqam

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 1632-3 C

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Went close in 1m2f Group 2 at Longchamp (soft) in October; looked set for further improvement and still does following his close third in Group 3 Gordon Richards over C&D (good; Ancient Wisdom second) five weeks ago, pushed along firmly from 3f out and hampered before finishing with more to give; a stronger pace at this trip will help him and he's one to note.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(1)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Almaqam

9st 2lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Last season concluded with fine third in the Champion Stakes over C&D (good; about 2l behind runner-up Ombudsman) and this 5yo looked better than ever when winning the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh (10.5f, good) on his reappearance, with subsequent Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller 2l back in second and a disappointing Minnie Hauk in fifth; today's company is even hotter but he might not be far away if the fast ground isn't an issue.

11/2

1st

1

(7)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 110y

15:55 Curragh

Almaqam

9st 5lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Ed Walker

Closest to Minnie Hauk on ratings, although that rival has the benefit of race-fitness and a fillies allowance; made all to beat subsequent three-time Group 1 winner Ombudsman at Sandown (1m2f, good) last season but had the benefit of a run; good placed efforts in Group 2s at York (10.5f, good) and Longchamp (1m4f, good to soft); signed off last term with a cracking run to take third in a Group 1 at Ascot on Champions Day (1m2f, good); there is likely more to come to this term from the British raider.

5/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1111- D

Last run: 263 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Unraced at two; unbeaten in four starts last term, with two novice wins followed by a Listed race at Deauville (1m2f, good) and seven-runner Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft); odds-on for last three of those; quickened to the front last time once the gap opened and then looked as if he had more in the tank; should make his mark in big races this term.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(8)

17th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Ombudsman

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won this by 2l last year (good to firm) and he's added two further Group 1 wins since; confirmed his wellbeing when defying a penalty in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1m2f, good) three weeks ago following a two-month break; this is a tougher line-up than 12 months ago and he was runner-up to Daryz's stablemate Calandagan in the Champion Stakes over C&D (good) last October, so he's not bombproof, but he has extremely strong credentials.

11/8

1st

1

(5)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

19:12 Sandown

Ombudsman

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Second in this last year on his reappearance and he's won three Group 1 races since (1m2f/1m1f, good to firm/good), the latest the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March on his sole outing this year; John Gosden has said that this is "going to bring him on to where we want him at (Royal) Ascot" but he'll be very tough to beat under a 7lb penalty if close to the top of his game.

8/11

Form: -11246 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Dual Listed winner; scored twice (1m1f/1m2f) in Bahrain in January, before two lesser efforts there and a sixth of 11 when dropped back to 1m for a Listed race at Ascot; while not disgraced in the latter, even his best form is not quite a match for today's rivals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(5)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Phantom Flight

9st 3lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Scott

Enhanced his good strike-rate in Bahrain with Group 3 success in April; weakened into last of six (well below par) at Newbury since and it's nearly two years since he last prevailed on home soil; doubts are cemented by this difficult assignment back up in grade.

66/1

6th

2

(6)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Phantom Flight

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: George Scott

Four Listed wins before he added a 1m4f Group 3 success in Bahrain 15 days ago; stacks of smart form in his lengthy career and none of it better than that latest start, but a bit extra will be needed to win this.

9/1

Form: /217-1 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
379-day absence proved no obstacle when he came from off the pace to win stylishly in a Listed race at Kempton (1m2f, AW) in April; last three of his wins have been on AW but he's close to the best of these in form terms and William Buick rides him instead of Ancient Wisdom.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(5)

23rd Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

18:45 Windsor

Military Order

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Appleby

Record of 5-13 and his last two wins were in Group 3 at Southwell (1m3f) last January and a Listed event at Kempton (1m2f) this spring; ran into some trouble when creditable sixth of 16 in Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) and he was only narrowly denied back in a Group 3 at Haydock two weeks ago; was as good as ever with that bold bid and he's the standout contender in this line-up.

4/7

2nd

5

(7)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

Military Order

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Charlie Appleby

Best turf form when just over 2l sixth of 16 in Listed race at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) latest start, a race which Haatem won but this 5yo gave him 3lb and eventually ran on well after trouble in running; on that evidence there's not much between them and they are leading contenders.

4/1

6th

3

(10)

17th Jun 2025

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Military Order

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Added to his very good AW record with a stylish win in a Listed race at Kempton (1m2f) in April but he wasn't in quite the same form when fourth (Phantom Flight third) in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown since and there are doubts as to whether he's still as effective on turf as AW; also has a 3lb penalty for the Kempton win.

8/1

12/1

Form: 11252- D BF

Last run: 250 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Won top handicap at York last July, pipped at Glorious Goodwood and close second to Persica in Listed race at Ayr, all over about 1m2f; may well be the type to raise his game again this term, which is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(7)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Enfjaar

9st 5lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Best effort in a truncated 2025 campaign when fourth to Haatem in this race (good to firm); showed enough to think he retains all his ability when third in 1m2f Goodwood Listed race (good) on reappearance 25 days ago; could reach the frame in this again.

11/1

3rd

5

(7)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Enfjaar

9st 3lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Unlucky second at Glorious Goodwood in 2024 when bidding for a notable 1m2f handicap double; best effort in a truncated 2025 campaign when fourth to Haatem in Listed grade at Royal Ascot; should be thereabouts, provided he's in top form after ten-month layoff.

5/1

3rd

4

(6)

19th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

Enfjaar

9st 8lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Roger Varian

Won the valuable John Smith's Cup at York (1m2f, good to soft) last July in his penultimate handicap; close fourth of 16 in Listed race at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) one month ago showed, not for the first time, that he should be well capable of a prominent finish in today's company.

5/2

Form: 7487-3 C

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Somewhat underwhelming last season after winning first time out; had gelding and wind operations and reappeared with an eyecatching performance in eight-runner Group 2 here (1m, good) five weeks ago, staying on from last to third in the last 2f; he needs better still and has never been this far but it now looks worth a shot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

(6)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Ciceros Gift

9st 2lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Charles Hills

Returns to the scene of his biggest performance but that 100-1 success in last year's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over C&D (good) still seems something of a fluke, having been seemingly helped by the draw; has failed to back up the form in races won by Opera Ballo and Notable Speech this season, beaten about 7l both times; dubious claims.

40/1

7th

1

(4)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Ciceros Gift

9st 2lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Charles Hills

Didn't have the ideal set-up at Sandown (behind Zeus Olympios) on reappearance but still needs to prove the form of his 100-1 success in last year's Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II (1m, good) at Ascot, where he was possibly helped by the draw, can be backed up; may be flattered by his mark.

33/1

4th

1

(5)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Ciceros Gift

9st 8lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Charles Hills

Dual C&D winner who finished third in this race last year; returns to Sandown but may be flattered by his new rating, having been perhaps helped by the draw when registering a 100-1 success in the Group 1 QEII at Ascot (good) on last appearance; needs to prove he can back up that form.

20/1

66/1

Form: 24-115 D

Last run: 96 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Beaten off handicap marks in the low 90s in Britain last summer; three wins in Qatar this winter and not beaten far when bidding for a big handicap prize in Saudi Arabia in February on latest outing, but stiff task in this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(4)

12th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

14:00 York

Aafoor

9st 13lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: M Al Attiya

Won two in a row in Qatar (1m2f/10.5f) earlier this year; however, well beaten in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard (1m2f) and the Buckingham Palace Handicap (7f) since returning to Britain, and others are preferred.

50/1

24th

4

(11)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Aafoor

9st 12lb

J: Szczepan Mazur

T: M Al Attiya

Hampered when a never-nearer eighth of 18 in his sole 7f handicap in Britain, at Goodwood (good to firm) last July; much higher in the weights now following three 1m2f wins in Qatar over the winter and a remote finish in a Group 3 at Sandown (1m2f) recently left questions hanging.

66/1

7th

3

(6)

29th May 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

19:35 Sandown

Aafoor

9st 2lb

J: Szczepan Mazur

T: M Al Attiya

Beaten off handicap marks in the low 90s in Britain last summer; three wins in Qatar this winter and not beaten far when bidding for a big handicap prize in Saudi Arabia in February on latest outing, but stiff task in this.

66/1

OUR TIP

Form: 18-318 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won last term over 1m2f in two handicaps and a Listed race, before another step forward for Group 3 honours over 1m1f at Newmarket this April; well beaten at Newbury 12 days ago and while that performance in a 1m Group 1 (22-1) is not the hardest to forgive, this company also looks tricky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Persica, Ancient Wisdom, Bolster

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.40
Straight Forecast £4.17
Tricast £27.61
Trifecta £28.20

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Almaqam

SPOTLIGHT:

Ombudsman

TOPSPEED:

Enfjaar

POSTDATA:

Ancient Wisdom

The Sun:

Military Order

NEWMARKET:

Ombudsman

Telegraph:

Ombudsman

Daily Record:

Ombudsman

LAMBOURN:

Almaqam

The Guardian:

Almaqam

Daily Mail:

Almaqam

D Express:

Almaqam

Daily Mirror:

Almaqam

The Star:

Almaqam

The Times:

Enfjaar