Almeraq staged a dramatic comeback to claim victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday, delivering a photo-finish win in one of the closest finishes in the race’s history. The four-year-old colt, trained by William Haggas, defied 25-1 odds to edge out Japanese contender Satono Reve, who finished second for the second consecutive year.

The race ended with Australian favorite Joliestar narrowly missing out on the top two spots, finishing third by a short head, while French challenger Stolen Kiss took fourth place. The closely contested race unfolded over six furlongs, showcasing Almeraq’s resilience and speed at the highest level of competition.

Almeraq’s triumph is particularly notable given the colt’s recovery from a severe fall last September at York. The son of Dark Angel suffered a high-speed tumble after clipping heels, resulting in serious injuries that left jockey Jim Crowley hospitalized with fractures to his tibia, fibula, pelvis, and internal bleeding. After nearly nine months of rehabilitation, Almeraq made a successful return last month by winning the Listed Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury.

Haggas praised the colt's progress following the accident, highlighting the challenges of returning a horse to peak condition after such a traumatic fall. “It is quite hard to fall in a race like that at speed and, for a young horse going at speed it was difficult. The horse took a long time to come back,” Haggas said. He added that the transition to Group One racing was a significant step up for Almeraq, who had been carefully prepared throughout the spring. “He managed to cope with it. He’s a beautiful horse, we have always loved him. He’s a big, strong, powerful horse, and I think he will get better because he is pretty lightly raced.”

The victory also marked Haggas' fourth winner at the Royal Ascot meeting this year. Although Jim Crowley, the retained jockey for Almeraq’s owners, the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Estate Company, was forced to sit out Royal Ascot due to his ongoing recovery, the ride was handed to stable jockey Tom Marquand. Crowley has been making progress in regaining his fitness but missed the opportunity to participate in the event for the first time in his career.

Marquand acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the win, paying tribute to Crowley’s difficult journey back from injury. “My first thought when I thought I had won was for Jim,” he said. “This horse and he both took horror falls at the back end of last year. Jim is fighting for his career. He should be aboard this horse – it’s his ride.” Marquand described the victory as a testament to both the colt’s and Crowley’s determination to overcome adversity.

Looking ahead, Haggas expressed optimism for Almeraq’s future prospects, signaling confidence that the horse’s development is far from complete. “Now it is onwards and upwards,” he said.