Dark Angel’s Khaadem Upsets The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee

There are very few, if any, riders able to navigate Royal Ascot's straight course like Jamie Spencer and he used every bit of his mix of talent, guile and experience to steer the Charlie Hills-trained 80-1 shot Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})–White Daffodil {Ire}, by Footstepsinthesand {GB}) to glory in Saturday's feature G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. Like sweet medicine for these old campaigners who seem to have lost their way, the jockey who had partnered a 50-1 winner up the same strip on Thursday could be spotted some way out getting a rare tune out of Jim and Fitri Hay's flagbearer who had unshipped him behind the stalls and who had failed to come out of them in last year's G1 King's Stand S.

Relishing the hold-up tactics, last year's G2 King George V S. winner cut through the pack to overhaul Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) close home and had a neck to spare over Cheveley Park Stud's mare where it counted. There was a further 1 1/4 lengths back to the 11-4 favourite Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who was having her second group 1 start and was achieving her second placing of the week. Like her, the Australian raider Cannonball (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}) was also coming back after the King's Stand but lost Danny Tudhope in the stalls.

“It's just amazing that we've got to where we have now at his age, but I have always had massive faith in this horse and that's why I've kept him for so long,” Charlie Hills said of the former Shadwell representative. “He won a group 2 last year over five, but this year I wanted to try and race him properly again and drop him in to make sure we got the six furlongs well. 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 through his career. It really is the icing on the cake today.”

 

It is a challenge to summarise the story of Khaadem, who started out in the royal blue and white and won Goodwood's prestigious Stewards' Cup as a 3-year-old before finishing fourth in this and the G1 July Cup the following season. One win in eight in 2021 meant he was let go by Shadwell and was reinvented as a five-furlong performer when bagging Newmarket's G3 Palace House S. and the King George back at Goodwood before another spell in the doldrums. After an uninspiring period in Meydan, he was back in Britain to warm up for this with a third in Salisbury's Listed Cathedral S. last month but had still offered little evidence that such a late career breakthrough was on the cards.

Reserved at the back of the six-strong group racing up the centre led by The Astrologist (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), at halfway Khaadem was about to unleash his full ability getting the Spencer treatment for the first time. Spencer just waits and waits up the straight course here and being the last to be asked a question was the key as the eventual winner was willing to give his all with Sacred his final target. Highfield Princess was forced to do her own work towards the stands' rail and gave another highly creditable display as she dominated that side.

“I felt no pressure,” Spencer said. “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. It's difficult for me to put into words what Jim and Fitri have been like as friends to me for a long time. Getting on the horses in group ones is the hardest part, but it's a fantastic day and I'm going to enjoy it.”

Sacred's trainer William Haggas said, “It is mixed emotions. I am thrilled with the way she has run, but gutted that she has got caught. She got left a bit in front, that was the problem. She has run a great race and I am very proud of her.” Jason Hart said of Highfield Princess, “I don't know how many times we have run against Khaadem, but every time we have beaten him. Maybe it is down to different track position and they were always up on me on the other side. I felt her battle for me all the way to the line and she has run her race.”

Pedigree Notes
By one of Royal Ascot's sire stars, Khaadem is out of White Daffodil whose prior best was Dark Angel's Listed Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy winner and G2 Norfolk S. and G2 Mill Reef S. runner-up Log Out Island (Ire). She is kin to three black-type performers headed by the Listed Carnarvon S. and Listed Prix Saraca winner Lady Links (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), who is also the dam of the Listed Oh So Sharp S. winner Selinka (GB) (Selkirk) who in turn produced the G3 Curragh S. and G3 Mercury S. winner Hit The Bid (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and the Limestone S. scorer Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}). From the family of the G1 Prix Maurice de Gheest-winning sire Bold Edge (GB) (Beveled), White Daffodil's 3-year-old full-brother to Khaadem, Themainprotagonist (Ire), is a winner for this yard, while she also has a yearling filly again by Dark Angel.

Saturday, Royal Ascot, Britain
QUEEN ELIZABETH II JUBILEE S.-G1, £1,000,000, Ascot, 6-24, 4yo/up, 6fT, 1:12.42, g/f.
1–KHAADEM (IRE), 131, g, 7, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: White Daffodil (Ire), by Footstepsinthesand (GB)
2nd Dam: Sparky's Song (GB), by Electric (GB)
3rd Dam: Daring Ditty (GB), by Daring March (GB)
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (750,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Jamie Spencer. £567,100. Lifetime Record: SP-UAE, 30-8-2-4, $1,412,909. *Full to Log Out Island (Ire), SW & MGSP-Eng, GSP-Ire & SP-Fr, $250,585. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sacred (GB), 128, m, 5, Exceed And Excel (Aus)–Sacre Caroline, by Blame. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas. £215,000.
3–Highfield Princess (Fr), 128, m, 6, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Pure Illusion (Ire), by Danehill. (29,000gns RNA Ylg '18 TATDEY). O/B-Trainers House Enterprises Ltd (FR); T-John Quinn. £107,600.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, 1HF. Odds: 80.00, 9.00, 2.75.
Also Ran: Artorius (Aus), The Astrologist (Aus), Al Suhail (GB), Kinross (GB), Coeur de Pierre (Fr), Run To Freedom (GB), Wellington (Aus), Emaraaty Ana (GB), Art Power (Ire), Big Invasion, Sandrine (GB), Rohaan (Ire).

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Cheveley Park Stud’s Sacred Powers To Chartwell Triumph

Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}–Sacre Caroline, by Blame) had failed in three prior attempts at Group 1 level, but top-table options remain open after she collected a third pattern-race triumph in Saturday's recalibrated G3 Fitzdares Chartwell Fillies' S. at Lingfield.

She was making her first start on a synthetic surface here and 2021's G3 Nell Gwyn S. and G2 Hungerford S. victrix returned to action for this seven-furlong heat coming back off a second over the same trip in October's G2 Challenge S. at Newmarket.

Sacred went postward as the well-backed 13-8 favourite and was steadied to employ patient tactics in rear after an alert getaway. Shaken up to close into the short home straight, she quickened in impressive fashion to pounce out wide with 100 yards remaining and powered clear in style from there, hitting the line strong and 2 1/4 lengths clear of familiar rival Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten).

“We've kept her in training to try to win a Group 1 with her, remembering she was only beaten a length in the Jubilee last year,” explained Cheveley Park's Max McLoughlin. “She's a high-class filly and a Group 2 winner, and it was great to see her do it so impressively. She will go to [Royal] Ascot and could have another crack at the [G1] Jubilee. She's also in the Duke of Edinburgh.”

Ryan Moore, having notched a second win in the race, added, “She's a lovely filly who has won multiple Group races, and the all-weather round here suited her. She quickened up very well and I was impressed with her.”

Pedigree Notes
Sacred is the first of five foals and one of two winners from three runners out of a winning half-sister to MGISW US champion distaffer Lady Eli (Divine Park), GIII Regret S. and GIII Mint Julep H. victrix Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex) and GIII Jimmy Durante third Princesa Caroline (American Pharoah). The April-foaled bay is a half-sister to the unraced 2-year-old colt Joycean Way (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) and a yearling filly by Frankel (GB). Descendants of her third dam Kazadancoa (Fr) (Green Dancer) include MGISW distaffer Spiced Perfection (Smiling Tiger), G1 Racing Post Trophy-winning sire Palace Episode (Machiavellian), GISW Canadian champion Spring In The Air (Spring At Last) and GI Spinaway S. winner Sweet Loretta (Tapit).

Saturday, Lingfield, Britain
FITZDARES CHARTWELL FILLIES' S.-G3, £60,000, Lingfield, 5-13, 3yo/up, f, 7f 1y (AWT), 1:21.50, st.
1–SACRED (GB), 132, m, 5, by Exceed And Excel (Aus)
1st Dam: Sacre Caroline, by Blame
2nd Dam: Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado
3rd Dam: Kazadancoa (Fr), by Green Dancer
O/B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Ryan Moore. £34,488. Lifetime Record: 14-5-4-0, $313,266. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sandrine (GB), 132, f, 4, Bobby's Kitten–Seychelloise (GB), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-Kirsten Rausing (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £13,086.
3–Queen Aminatu (GB), 132, f, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Zeb Un Nisa (GB), by Iffraaj (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (28,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-A E Oppenheimer; B-Hascombe & Valiant Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas. £6,546.
Margins: 2 1/4, HF, NK. Odds: 1.63, 2.25, 3.50.
Also Ran: Secret Angel (Ire), White Moonlight, Candle Of Hope (GB), Nizaaka (Fr), Love Interest (GB).

 

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Zebedee’s Pogo Best In The Challenge

Confirming his love for Newmarket, Gary and Linnet Woodward's Pogo (Ire) (Zebedee {GB}) made all under a perfectly-judged ride from William Buick to register a third pattern-race success in Friday's G2 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge S. Always happy against the far rail shading it from the eventual third Misty Grey (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), the May 28 G3 John of Gaunt S. and June 25 G3 Criterion S. winner drew away from that rival and beyond the reach of Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) to score by 1 1/4 lengths. In seven starts here, the Charlie Hills-trained Pogo who was second last time to Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G2 City of York S. and traded as the 7-4 second favourite has won four and been second on the other three.

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Exceed And Excel’s Sacred Storms Back To Form

On all known form, Cheveley Park Stud's Sacred (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) was entitled to win Friday's Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup but having disappointed when sixth in the Aug. 20 G2 City of York S. there was an element of doubt which she put firmly to bed with a confidence-restoring command performance. Always happy tracking the pace over the Newbury course and seven-furlong distance at which she excelled in 2021 when taking the G2 Hungerford S., the 10-11 favourite treated the useful pair of Saleymm (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Shine So Bright (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) as if they were lead horses and after cruising between them took control a furlong out before winning by 6 1/2 lengths with utter authority.

“She loves Newbury, but she's a funny old bird, very talented but not the easiest,” Maureen Haggas said of the winner who had returned this term with a close-up fifth in Royal Ascot's G1 Platinum Jubilee S. June 18 prior to finishing out of the frame in Goodwood's G2 Lennox S. July 26 and at the York Ebor Festival. “I think after her good run at Ascot, they got too strung out at York and she lost interest.”

Sacred's dam Sacre Caroline (Blame), a 300,000gns purchase by the Stud at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, is a half-sister to the champion turf female Lady Eli (Divine Park) whose achievements include the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational, GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, GI Flower Bowl S., GI Diana S. and GI Gamely S. Also a half to the GIII Mint Julep H. scorer Bizzy Caroline (Afleet Alex), her 2-year-old colt A Dublin Lad (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) is unraced, she has a yearling colt also by Ulysses who is heading to next month's Book 1 Sale, and a filly foal by Frankel (GB).

DUBAI DUTY FREE CUP-Listed, £40,000, Newbury, 9-16, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:25.54, gd.
1–SACRED (GB), 125, f, 4, Exceed And Excel (Aus)–Sacre Caroline, by Blame. O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Tom Marquand. £22,684. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Eng, 12-4-3-0, $241,539.
2–Saleymm (Ire), 130, g, 4, Dubawi (Ire)–Talmada, by Cape Cross (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Simon & Ed Crisford. £8,600.
3–Shine So Bright (GB), 130, h, 6, Oasis Dream (GB)–Alla Speranza (GB), by Sir Percy (GB). (57,000gns Wlg '16 TATFOA; €27,000 Ylg '17 GOFOR; £375,000 2yo '18 GOFLON). O-King Power Racing Co Ltd; B-Miss K Rausing (GB); T-Andrew Balding. £4,304.
Margins: 6HF, 3/4, NK. Odds: 0.91, 3.30, 14.00.
Also Ran: Siamsa (Ire), Tacarib Bay (GB), Jumby (Ire), Heat of The Moment (GB).

 

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