Khaadem

What makes that record genuinely impressive is where Khaadem has chosen to shine. He has raced 16 times at Class 1 level and won 4 of them — that's 1 in every 4 races at the highest grade, which is a seriously good conversion rate at the top table. Ascot in particular seems to bring out something in him: 2 wins from just 4 races there. His most recent victory came at Royal Ascot in June 2024, which means he has won the same prestigious race there in back-to-back years, 2023 and 2024. Hills noted ahead of that 2024 win that Khaadem looked as well as he had the previous year and seemed to relish being ridden with a bit of tactical freedom — sometimes coming from the back, sometimes sitting closer. That adaptability is a mark of a smart, experienced horse.

He also clearly loves fast, dry ground — 3 wins from 10 races in those conditions, compared to nothing on wet or muddy surfaces. When the sun is out and the ground is firm, he is a different animal.

Recent form has been quieter — he hasn't won in his last six races — but the adventures have continued. He finished third in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar against the best sprinters in the world, which his jockey Oisin Murphy described as amazing for a nine-year-old. At Sha Tin, a broken stirrup leather mid-race ended any chance before it began. These aren't the results of a horse in decline; they're the results of a well-travelled veteran still competing at the very highest level. Charles Hills's yard has sent out 29 winners already this season, and with Jamie Spencer most often in the saddle, Khaadem raced just yesterday — still very much at it.