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| Sumita Pawar |
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Khaadem, the Royal Ascot champion, may join the Group One July Cup and will be included as an entry for the Newmarket highlight at the end of this month, as long as the weather remains dry.
This comes after the 7YO, trained by Charlie Hills, surprised everyone by winning the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting with odds of 80-1. Khaadem has always shown the potential to be a top-notch speedster.
Capitalizing On Khaadem's Winning Streak
Following his impressive victory at Ascot, Khaadem, the son of Dark Angel, is said to be in high spirits and connections are now eager to capitalize on his current form. As a result, the Fitri Hay-owned gelding is expected to be included in the lineup for the six-furlong contest on July 15, where he may face tough competition from the likes of Shaquille and Little Big Bear, who finished first and second in the Commonwealth Cup.
“He’s come off of Ascot really well. We haven’t done much with him since, but he’s been cantering and moving nicely,” said Hills.
“It’s taken a while to get the Group One, it was his ninth attempt someone told me. But we’ve always liked him a lot and especially when he won the Stewards’ Cup as a three-year-old, he looked like he was going to be a really good horse. It’s just taken a long time to get to where we are now.
“We didn’t put him in the July Cup, but I would say if it stays dry there is a good possibility he will be supplemented for it.
“There are a couple of three-year-olds coming into the equation now which makes things more intriguing and it will be interesting to see how they do, but it’s mostly similar types of horses that we beat the other day, so I think it’s the obvious race to go for if it does stay dry.
“He loves fast ground so if it does stay dry, we will certainly have a good look at it.”
Equilateral, who consistently runs well in the Hay silks, also had a notable performance at the Royal meeting, finishing fifth in the King's Stand Stakes behind Bradsell.
After participating in the opening-day Group One for the fourth time, the 8YO will now aim for better fortune in the Coral Charge at Sandown on Saturday, following a sixth-place finish marred by interference in the same race last year.
Hills continued, “He’s always run well at Ascot. He’s been second, he ran well there last year and obviously did well again this year.
“The race he is in this weekend, he was very unlucky in it last year, he never got a run at all. We hope for a bit of better luck this time. He seems in great form with himself.”