Tom Marquand Wins Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
Tom Marquand rode Almeraq to a thrilling victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes on June 20 at Royal Ascot, defeating Satono Reve by a nose.
The win was a significant one for Marquand, who was riding in place of Jim Crowley, the operation's retained rider, who is recovering from a serious leg injury.
Almeraq, owned by Shadwell Estates, was a close third behind Joliestar and Satono Reve for much of the race.
But Marquand expertly guided the horse to a late surge, overtaking the leaders in the final stretch.
The winning margin was just a nose, with Joliestar finishing a short head back in third.
Marquand's win was a testament to his skill and experience as a jockey, as he navigated the challenging Royal Ascot course with ease.
The victory was also a significant one for trainer William Haggas, who had carefully managed Almeraq's recovery from a serious fall at York last year.
Haggas said of Almeraq: "It was a great race, he had a fall at York last year and he took a long time to come back."
The July Cup Stakes, scheduled for July 11 at Newmarket Racecourse, is likely to be Almeraq's next target, according to Haggas.
Marquand will be looking to build on his success in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, and a win in the July Cup would be a major boost to his career.
Almeraq's victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes was a **dramatic** finish to a thrilling race, with the horse winning by a nose on June 20.
The **international** field included talented horses from around the world, but Almeraq emerged victorious under Marquand's expert guidance.
Marquand's thoughts were with Jim Crowley, who was forced to miss the race due to injury, saying: "My first thought when I thought I'd won was for Jim."
Crowley, the operation's retained rider, was **delighted** to see Almeraq win, praising the training performance of Haggas and his team.
The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes was a **prestigious** event, with a talented field of horses competing for the top prize.
Marquand's win was a **significant** one, marking a major milestone in his career as a jockey.