Khaadem bidding to become oldest LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint winner

Khaadem will attempt to become the first nine-year-old to win the HK$28 million (approx. £2.7m) G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (6f/1200m) at Sha Tin’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on Sunday, December 14.

Khaadem, though, is no ordinary horse. He defied odds of 80/1 for a sensational victory in Britain’s premier sprint, the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes in 2023 and became the race’s oldest winner when successful as an eight-year-old last year.

Now a year older, Khaadem failed to shine in a handful of starts on home soil since then, but has found a new lease on life in the United States of America, most recently finishing an excellent third in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar.

It has been the plan to target Sha Tin since then, and his trainer Charlie Hills is optimistic another international foray can bring out the best in Jim and Fitri Hay’s accomplished veteran.

“He’s been a brilliant horse for us,” Hills said. “I think he’s very nearly at the top of his game. He’s going to be 10 next month, and nothing lasts forever, but he’s been running some great races – he won a Group 2 two starts ago and was third at the Breeders’ Cup.

“It was a really good run at Del Mar. He came out of his race very well and it’s always been the plan to come to Hong Kong. He’s been in America since the Breeders’ Cup and I think that will have been easier on him than coming home in between.”

Khaadem showed he still retained the winning spirit when successful in the G2 Woodford Stakes at Keeneland on his penultimate start, producing a typically electric last-to-first run, and Hills expects his hold-up racing style to be well-suited to Sha Tin.

Blinkers were added to excellent effect at the Breeders’ Cup, and while it is not yet known whether they will be used in Hong Kong, the Hills team can take confidence in their jockey booking, with Oisin Murphy set to reunite with the gelding for the first time since Royal Ascot last year.

Hills said: “He’d won in blinkers before when we were running him over five furlongs, but we took them off when we stepped him up to six furlongs. I’m not sure if he’ll wear them in Hong Kong or not.

“I think he’ll like Sha Tin, I can’t see the track being a problem, and he could almost train himself now. Once he’s racing, we can just keep him ticking over. He’s a very clean-winded, sound horse – he’s sounder now than he was when he was younger.

“He’s always had his quirks. He can be absolutely brilliant one day and then throw a wobbly. So, he’s certainly got his own character, but he’s grown up a lot while he’s in America and has really enjoyed training over there.”

Khaadem will have local champion Ka Ying Rising standing in his way on 14 December, but Hills is relishing the challenge of competing against such a spectacular talent.

“It’s going to be very interesting,” he said. “It wouldn’t be the end of the world finishing second to him, and in these sprints anything can happen. It’s about split decisions, and draws could come into it.”

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Ka Ying Rising aiming to match Golden Sixty’s winning streak

Ka Ying Rising, the world’s top-rated sprinter, has delighted David Hayes in his final fast turf gallop ahead of the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (LONGINES HKIR) on 14 December as a string of local contenders sharpened preparations with barrier trials at Sha Tin today (Thursday, 4 December).

Ka Ying Rising will attempt to match Golden Sixty’s feat of winning 16 races in a row – a streak bettered only by Silent Witness (17 wins) as a Hong Kong, China-trained horse – when he tackles the HK$28 million (approx. £2.7m) G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint next week.

Hayes believes his charge is on target after the five-time Group 1 winner surged over his final 400m in 21.6s in a sparkling turf gallop on Wednesday morning (3 December) under leading rider Zac Purton.

“I thought it was as good as you could ask the horse to work. Zac quickened on him, and he said he thought that he was at his top and he gave him a little dig and he extended again,” Hayes said.

“He just cantered around on the turf track and quickened the last 400 metres and ran home in 21.6 (seconds). He just gradually increased his work, and I think he would have broken 11 seconds for the last 200 (metres) without trying.

“I think Zac thought it was the best he’s felt in work, so he just keeps on improving and he’ll just do steady work into the big race. We’re very happy with him.”

The HK$130 million (approx. £12.5m) LONGINES Hong Kong International Races take place at Sha Tin on Sunday, 14 December.

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Featured image credit: HKJC