• Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club-sponsored Qatar Goodwood Festival will conclude today
Khaadem, trained by Charles Hills and ridden by jockey Ryan Moore, claimed the King George Qatar Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival in United Kingdom yesterday. Consistently performing to a high standard throughout his career and coming into the race in winning form, the Fitri and Jim Hay-owned Khaadem (Dark Angel x White Daffodil) bounded to success in the Group 2 race.
Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiya, QREC vice chairman and Asian Equestrian Federation president, crowned the winners after the race. The fourth and penultimate day of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Festival had a seven-race card day. The feature and fourth race was the Gr2 King George Qatar Stakes. The 1,000 sprint for three-year-olds and older is a veritable test of raw speed and has been a key feature of the Qatar sponsored Goodwood Festival since 1911. This year, the particularly open contest allowed an opportunity for fresh talent, following years of domination by whirlwind champions such as Battaash (Dark Angel) and Take Cover (Singspiel).
Trained by Hills, who dominated this race with Battaash (Dark Angel) between 2017-2020, the six-year-old has twice finished fourth at Gr1 level and his success in the Gr2 King George Qatar Stakes is the highlight of his 23-race career to date.
Winner of the 27 runner Stewards Cup in 2019, Khaadem is now a dual-winner at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and provided his owners with a second win of the week, following Royal Scotsman (Gleneagles), who landed the Gr2 Richmond Stakes on Thursday.
Ridden by Ryan Moore, the six-year-old followed the blistering early speed of the Czech-trained Ponntos (Power) and travelled with ease. Ranging up to join the leader inside the final 300m, Khaadem pulled clear of his rivals and held off the fast-finishing Raasel (Showcasing) by a neck. Never-nearer, Caturra (Mehmas) stayed on well to take third.
Khaadem was bred by Yeomanstown Stud. Khaadem’s dam, White Daffodil (Footstepsinthesand) won two races and has also produced Log Out Island (Dark Angel), who is a Listed winner and Gr2 placed. The second dam, Sparky’s Song (Electric) produced the Listed winner Lady Links (Bahamian Bounty), who is the dam of dual Listed winner Selinka (Selkirk), herself the dam of the Gr.3 winner Hit The Bid (Exceed And Excel).
The curtain will fall today on the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The race meetings of the five-day annual Festival continued over four days before it will reach its finale today. This year’s edition has had special importance with the huge turnout of spectators at Goodwood, indicating the keenness to be part of the racing extravaganza, being a racing landmark in the UK and Europe. QREC delegation have been there at Goodwood, led by QREC Chairman HE Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi, QREC Vice Chairman and Asian Equestrian Federation President Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiya, QREC Board Member and Al Shaqab Executive Director Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, QREC Board Members Khalid bin Mohamed al-Ali and Ahmad bin Mohamed Alabdulmalik, QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi and Director of QREC Chairman Office and Manager of QREC Marketing Department Hesham Mohamed al-Ali.
Ryan Moore rides Khaadem to King George Qatar Stakes victory at the Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday. PICTURES: Zuzanna Lupa