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Dry July Cup appeals for Khaadem

3 minute read

Trainer Charlie Hills is looking at the July Cup at Newmarket on 15 of July as a possible next target for Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem.

KHAADEM.
KHAADEM. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

The seven-year-old would need to be supplemented for the highlight of Newmarket's three-day July meeting following his Royal Ascot success.

A winner of a novice stakes on the July Course as a two-year-old, Khaadem has not been seen at the track since August 2021.

The Dark Angel gelding bounced back from a disappointing stint in Meydan at the start of the year to finish third in the Listed Cathedral Stakes at Salisbury and produced a career-best performance to out-run odds of 80/1 in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting.

"He's come off Ascot really well. We haven't done much with him since, but he's been cantering and moving nicely," said Charlie 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."

The three-year-olds Shaquille and Little Big Bear currently head the market for the Group 1 July Cup at 9/4 and 7/2.


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