Outsider Khaadem makes history for Hills in Queen Elizabeth II Stakes as 80/1 shot lands Royal Ascot Group 1
Khaadem produced one of the most remarkable results in recent times at Royal Ascot when he landed the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes for Lambourn’s Charlie Hills.
The Fitri Hay-owned seven-year-old, who was withdrawn from last year’s King’s Stand Stakes after sitting down in the stalls, set off as rank 80/1 outsider, having failed to win in any of his last six starts.
The Dark Angel gelding was third in a Listed race at Salisbury last month and was 13th from 15 in a Group 3 contest in Dubai at the beginning of March, although Hills has always retained faith in his charge.
Khadeem, who wore a hood to the post, found himself towards the rear but began to make headway and moved into contention on the heels of the leaders four furlongs into the six furlong contest.
The William Haggas-trained Sacred looked to make a move but Khaadem, under a superb ride from Jamie Spencer, wore down his rival and crossed the line a neck clear of the in-form five-year-old, with pre-race favourite Highfield Princess in third, following up her second placed finish in the King’s Stand Stakes at the beginning of the week.
Khaadem became the longest priced winner ever of the race, which is the centrepiece of the final day’s racing at Royal Ascot.
The race, which set a new record turnover for a World Pool race, with £6.6m wagered, defied the bookies’ and punters’ expectations – although Lambourn handler Hills knew his star sprinter was capable of producing a big run.
“Khaadem does have his quirks but most sprinters do,” he said.
“It’s just amazing to have got to where we have now at his age.
“I have always had massive faith in this horse, that’s why I’ve kept him for so long.
“He won a Group 2 last year over five (furlongs) and that’s sort of what we were doing.
“This year, I wanted to try and race him properly again, drop him in, and make sure we got the six furlongs well.
“He won the Stewards' Cup (a six furlong contest at Goodwood) as a three-year-old, so the trip was never a concern, but he is very fast.
“He is a high-energised horse, who has just taken time to come to himself.
“Jamie Insole rides him out every morning and there has been a great team effort with this horse throughout his career.
“It really is the icing on the cake.
“We have been trying to win this for a while and had some good chances over the years.
“We’ve had a tough week this week and to win a race like this is just fantastic.”
Meanwhile, seven-time Classic winning jockey Jamie Spencer, who put his skill as a superb hold-up rider to good use, admitted he was delighted to get one over on rivals Frankie Dettori and Tom Marquand.
Legendary jockey Dettori had enjoyed a memorable week at his final Royal Ascot, winning the Gold Cup, but his mount Kinross fell away and finished seventh, while Hungerford’s Marquand was an agonising second.
Khaadem had never beaten Haggas’ Highfield Princess, who ended up third, despite the fact the two had faced off a number of times throughout their career.
However Spencer, who has been champion jockey in both Britain and Ireland, timed his mount’s assault to perfection as Khaadem became another shock winner in a Royal Ascot that was full of surprise results.
Spencer said: “I felt no pressure.
“I followed Frankie and Tom and could see Tom was going well at halfway.
“So, just like in a cycling race, you let him do the work for you and, you hope that when you pull out, you have a little bit to fire.
“Even my children are watching now.
“In years before, when I was flying at this meeting, they were too young to understand, so it’s nice when you get texts from them saying well done.
“Winning Group 1s is hard and getting on horses in Group 1s is the hardest part.
“It’s a fantastic day and I’m going to enjoy it.
“I sit beside Frankie in the weighing room and it was looking bleak in the last few days having to listen to him.
“At least I’ve had a little bit of a fightback.”
