Almeraq confirmed himself as this season’s star sprinter with a third top-level triumph of the campaign in the Qatar Racing British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot. After coming out on top in a thrilling Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, William Haggas' 11-10 favourite bounced back from July Cup disappointment with a blistering display in the Sprint Cup on very soft ground at Haydock. With conditions not as testing this time, the four-year-old - who was involved in a horrific fall at York that ultimately ended Jim Crowley's riding career a little over a year ago - showed all of his class and versatility in the hands of Tom Marquand.
He answered every urging from his rider to hit top gear close home and run down Ed Bethell's Paborus for a neck success. Completing a one-three for the Somerville Lodge was Division. Mount Atlas flew home late to thwart Queenstown with a shock success in the Qatar Racing British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot that boosted Andrew Balding's title challenge.
Although Aidan O'Brien and the Kingsclere handler headed into a pivotal weekend locked in battle for top spot in the trainers' standings, it was hard to envisage this race proving pivotal with Queenstown sent off at 14-1 and the winner a 33-1 outsider. It for one second appeared Ryan Moore had produced yet another Ascot masterclass aboard the Prix du Cadran third, but staying on resolutely was Mount Atlas whose winning run reached its summit under PJ McDonald just in time to spring a three-quarters of a length victory over his Ballydoyle rival. St Leger winner Highwayman filled the final position on the podium, with Gregory in fourth.
Balding said: "He might have been an unlucky loser if he hadn't got out, but he has to be ridden like that in a way. "He's a very talented horse, obviously we were just taking a chance on the two miles, but he loves Ascot and PJ gave him an absolutely brilliant ride. "I'm so thrilled and so appropriate in those (Mill Reef) colours as well.
I'm just sorry my mother isn't here - she's gone to watch a hockey match, she'd have loved that because she bred him." Asked if this victory gave him a big boost in his championship hopes he replied: "I don't know about that, there's still a long way to go." McDonald said: "You've got to enjoy days like this. I've probably got a lot more days behind me than I've got in front of me and it's great to still be in a position to ride horses like that on days like this. "Andrew and the whole team at Park House have been so good to me this last two or three years and that is the best way I can pay them back, a Group One winner on Champions Day when the team really needs the prize-money, so it's a big boost for everybody.
"He is a horse that you think you are going to win on him and you maybe don't, but the way it panned out for me it opened up at just the right time because he was on the line before he knew what was going on. "Everything panned out in my favour today and I'm just proud to be a small part of that team." Night In Vegas wrapped up a phenomenal season with a fourth straight success after Charlie Bishop timed his challenge to perfection in a thrilling Qatar Racing British Champions Day Two-Year-Old Conditions Stakes. Having won three sales races on the bounce, Eve Johnson Houghton's money-spinner was sent off 5-2 to complete the year on the ultimate Champions Day high, but it was Michael Dods' Gimcrack hero Arapaho Gold who was the 9-4 favourite to regain the winning thread after a first defeat last time out.
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