Khaadem keeps up King George domination for Charlie Hills

Khaadem once again showed his liking for Goodwood when holding off the late challenge of Raasel in the King George Qatar Stakes.

Winner of the Stewards’ Cup back in 2019, he had generally struggled upped in company ever since although he did win the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket last time out.

Trained by Charlie Hills – who won this Group Two for four successive years with the brilliant Battaash between 2017-2020 – the six-year-old rewarded punters at 8-1.

The pace was a rapid one set by Frankie Dettori on the Czech raider Ponntos, but his stride began to shorten with a furlong to run.

Ryan Moore – riding the winner for the first time – brought his mount through horses and hit the front with a furlong to run and while Raasel finished with a late rattle, as is his style, he could not catch Khaadem who held on by a neck.

Hills said: “It has always been the plan to come here. The track suits and he has won here before in the Stewards' Cup. He is getting faster with age, and today he was so relaxed, which is not like him.

"I said to Ryan that he was held up when he won the Stewards' Cup, so ride him how you want. He has won a couple of times making all, but he does not have to be ridden that way. Ryan gave him a peach. The way the race unfolded, they all came down the one side, and that opened everything up. He likes a bit of space in his races.

"He is a good horse, a very good horse with a lot of speed. Ryan was very positive after and we will look now for a Group One, the Nunthorpe or wherever.

"He is growing up. Sprinters can take their time. As a three-year-old he had a fantastic season, but it then did not quite work for him as a four-year-old. When Baattash won this day, Khaadem won the Stewards' Cup the next day and someone told me that he clocked a quicker sectional.

"We went then to a Haydock Sprint Cup and have always thought he could get to the top table. Maybe it’s age, maturity or being cut. He wears a red hood, blinkers – he is not tricky, just a bit quirky.”

Moore said: “Khaadem has shown already this year how good he is in the Palace House Stakes. It is the first time I've sat on him and the plan was not to be dropping him in. They went very hard and the pace was either side of me. Because he usually leads, I ended up taking it up too soon and he was waiting in front.

“He won the Stewards' Cup over six furlongs and has won this over five. He can win dropped in or from the front. He is a very good horse.”

Jim Hay, husband of winning owner Fitri, said: “We have always thought that Khaadem was a class horse. We were hopeful that he would deliver on our expectations, and he did. That was perfect, and a great training performance from Charlie.

“I could not split Khaadem and our other runner Equilateral [8th], as they are neck and neck on the gallops. Equilateral did everything we wanted from him. He ran a great race and will win a big one at some point.

“Goodwood is a fantastic track, a lucky place. We've had a great week and we run General Lee tomorrow. He was injured and has recovered – he should run a good race.”

Raasel’s trainer Mick Appleby said: “Raasel has run a blinder. James just said at halfway he hit a false bit of ground and that is when he had just come off the bridle. The ground may be overwatered for him and he likes a quicker surface. He has run a blinder and the winner Khaadem is a very good horse, so we're not disappointed at all. Raasel is definitely a Group Two horse. I would imagine it will be the Nunthorpe and the Flying Five now.”

Clive Cox said of Caturra: “It was a very pleasing run. He probably got a little bit outpaced for the first furlong down the hill, but really hit the line well. I am delighted, that was a very good performance. He is a horse that really came into himself for the second part of last year, so I’m quite excited. He isn’t that ground dependent, so we can look at all the nice five-furlong races from here on.”