Cover image courtesy of Royal Ascot
G1 The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S., (six furlongs) 1200m - 12.45am AEST (3.45pm local)
Prizemoney: £1,000,000 (AU$1,898,309)
Swooping to record back-to-back successes in Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, Fitri Hay's Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}–White Daffodil {Ire}, by Footstepsinthesand {GB}) proved himself a true horses-for-courses sprinter under Oisin Murphy.
Let go at 80-1 before winning with the full Jamie Spencer treatment 12 months ago, the Charlie Hills-trained 8-year-old who was 14-1 this time was always travelling like the winner in behind and when finally given the command swamped Swingalong (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) inside the final furlong for a half-length win. Mill Stream (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) was 1 1/4 lengths behind in third, with the 3-1 favourite Believing (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) a further length back in fourth.
“It was a pretty easy ride,” Murphy said of the first 8-year-old to triumph and the first back-to-back winner since Right Boy (Ire) (Impeccable {Ire}) in 1958-59. “I knew for the majority of the last two furlongs he would win and so I was able to enjoy it a little bit. There was a lot of speed on, particularly after a furlong, but when it began to slow down late on he came alive. I just wanted to copy Jamie Spencer from last year! The horse loves Ascot and he was well-prepared.”
The 8-year-old gelding has now won nine of 35 starts and is known to be inconsistent, having not won since this race last year and coming off a 13th placing in the G2 Duke of York S. a month ago. He showed himself to have ability early, winning two of his three start at two, then a Listed race first-up at three. He was fourth in his first attempt at this race in 2020 behind Cambridge Stud’s Hello Youmzain (Fr) in 2020, didn’t run in it in 2021 or 2022, before winning it in 2023 and 2024.
“He is a very good horse to win two of these, plus a Palace House, a Stewards' Cup and a King George at Goodwood,” Charlie Hills said.
“He got a fantastic ride off the pace and he never looked like he was going to get beat–he travelled beautifully through the race. He loves the place and I think fast ground is key to him–it's the first time he's had this ground pretty much since he ran here last time. He's a wonderful horse, but he's different at home one day to the next. One day he'll pick up the bridle and you think he's Nijinsky, the next you think he's like a selling plater. He knows more about the game than any of us, I think.”
Khadeem, whose sire Dark Angel's runners excel at Ascot and who was also the damsire of the afternoon's sensational Listed Chesham winner Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), is a full-brother to the Listed Two-Year-Old Trophy winner Log Out Island (Ire). His winning dam White Daffodil is kin to three black-type performers headed by the Listed Carnarvon S. and Listed Prix Saraca scorer Lady Links (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}), in turn the dam of the Listed Oh So Sharp S. winner Selinka (GB) (Selkirk) who produced the G3 Curragh S. and G3 Mercury S. winner Hit The Bid (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) and the stakes scorer Ruthin (GB) (Ribchester {Ire}).
G2 The Hardwicke S., (one mile four furlongs) 2400m - 12.05am AEST (3.05pm local)
Prizemoney: £250,000 (AU$474,577)
Victorious Racing's Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach {Ire}–Falls Of Lora {Ire}, by Street Cry {Ire}), who enjoyed a lucrative winter campaign snagging four of five starts in Bahrain, made a winning European comeback in last month's Listed Festival Stakes and stepped forward to secure an emotional victory for rider Callum Shepherd in Saturday's G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The 16-1 chance was positioned fifth through the initial strides and improved one spot after the opening exchanges of this 12-furlong contest. Easing closer on the home turn and moving into second passing the quarter-mile marker, he seized control approaching the final furlong and was driven clear to secure a career best.
“We took him over for that series in Bahrain and he just kept improving. Isle Of Jura has been amazing, he's never let us down and has got better with every start,” said Shepherd.
“He has become very straightforward and he has a real desire to win as well. He was rusty at Goodwood, but you still saw that innate desire to pass the post in front, which is so important. It's so wonderful for his owner, Sheikh Nasser. It was lovely he went over there [to Bahrain] so they could enjoy him on home soil, so to speak, and he's come back and continued to climb. He loves quick ground and stays a mile-and-a-half very well.”
Trainer George Scott was also basking in the glory of a first Royal winner and added, “Isle Of Jura is a special horse, he has improved all the time and has been a pleasure to train. He is the most ginormous horse and has just kept improving physically. He is a beautiful mover and a lot of hard work has gone into him at home. The finish was a moment I will never forget. Everything stopped for a minute and I could enjoy the last half-furlong. Most best-laid plans go to pot, but this has been a long-term plan. This was an obvious race for him. We knew Goodwood would bring him on, and it has, and we knew he would get the ground, and he has. It was a scintillating performance, so we shall enjoy it. Callum gave him a perfect ride. He sat nice and tight to a slow pace. He was in pole position and able to make use of his position, kick nice and early and put the race to bed. All roads lead to the [G1] King George [& Queen Elizabeth S.], 100 percent.”
4-year-old gelding Isle of Jura has won eight of his 13 starts, including his last five in succession, and was sold by Godolphin in 2023 at the Tattersalls Ascot March Sale for tried horses for 150,000gns (AU$435,000) to JS Bloodstock and George Scott Racing. He had only one start prior to his sale.
A full-brother to four-time Australian Group 1 winner Cascadian (GB) and half-brother to G1 Summer Stakes victor Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Isle Of Jura is out of G3 UAE Oaks victrix Falls Of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), herself a daughter of stakes-winning G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches-second Firth Of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) who is the dam of four black-type performers led by GI Breeders' Cup Mile, GI Woodbine Mile and GI Maker's Mark Mile hero Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and stakes-winning G1 St James's Palace Stakes runner-up Latharnach (Iffraaj {GB}). She is also the second dam of G1 Metropolitan victor Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
G3 The Jersey S. (seven furlongs) 1400m - 1.25am AEST (4.25pm local)
Prizemoney: £150,000 (AU$284,746)
Wathnan Racing's dual Classic-placed acquisition Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}–Hard Walnut {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) went postward for Saturday's G3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot lumbered with a three-pound Group 3 penalty and defied that impost in game fashion to register a narrow victory in the seven-furlong test. In doing so, he franked the Guineas form, having placed in both the G1 Two Thousand Guineas and G1 Irish Two Thousand Guineas in his last two starts.
Haatem was swiftly into stride and settled into a comfortable rhythm slipstreaming fellow Wathnan contender Native American (Ire) (Sioux Nation) in a prominent fourth from the outset. Tanking forward on the bridle to lead approaching the quarter-mile pole, the 7-2 second favourite came under pressure as threats loomed with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and was driven out to bravely hold the late surge of Frankel's half-brother Kikkuli (GB) (Kingman {GB}) by a short-head. Johnny Murtagh trainee and 80-1 outsider Chicago Critic (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) recorded a career best of his own and finished one length adrift in third.
Formerly owned by Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah, Haatem was battle-hardened by a nine-race juvenile campaign which yielded a win in Goodwood's 2023 G2 Vintage Stakes. He also chased home City Of Troy (Justify) in the G2 Superlative Stakes and G1 Dewhurst Stakes and opened this year with a daylight score in Newmarket's G3 Craven Stakes before placing in both Guineas.
“I have never known a horse get such a following from the general public with emails, Instagram messages and the like,” revealed trainer Richard Hannon. “Haatem is a pleasure to have around and I would love to think we will have an association for a few years to come. He deserved his day in the sun and hopefully there will be many more. He carried a three-pound penalty today, he got to the front very easy and I'm just delighted for the horse. It's a Group 3, but I think this Jersey was an awful lot more than it normally is. He has credit for a lot more than that and I'm sure a Group 1 is coming very soon.
“There are some very good races for him in Australia, America and France, but we'll take him home first. I just don't think there is any need for him to take on Rosallion, it's not a race I would enjoy watching and it seems a little unfair. Haatem is a horse that deserves everything he gets. He cost just £27,000, and that says a lot about our sport, a lot of it good. He's here taking part with a penalty at the top level. It shows it's possible, which you can't say about many sports.”
Haatem, who has won four of his 13 starts, is out of a dual-winning half-sister to G3 Premio Carlo Vittadini winner Father Frost (Ire) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and Listed Prix Pelleas, Listed Doncaster Mile and Listed Foundation Stakes placegetter Born To Be Alive (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}). His second dam Yaria (Ire) (Danehill), herself a daughter of G1 Phoenix Stakes runner-up Yara (Ire) (Sri Pekan), is a winning sibling of dual stakes scorer Emirates Gold (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}), Listed Prix Melisande victrix Yarastar (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and the stakes-placed Yario (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Listed The Chesham S., (seven furlongs) 1400m - 11.30am AEST (2.30pm local)
Prizemoney: £110,000 (AU$208,814)
Turning the Listed Chesham Stakes into her own Royal Ascot procession on Saturday, Ballydoyle's 2-year-old filly Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}–Mecca's Angel {Ire}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) recorded the widest-margin win of the week by some way to enter the 2025 Classic conversation.
Content to follow the leaders in the group racing up the centre, the 11-8 favourite who had won a Leopardstown maiden earlier this month was let loose by Ryan Moore two out and surged clear for an emphatic 9 1/2-length success. Pentle Bay (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) was next, with Brian (Ire) (Shaman {Ire}) half a length back in third. “She's a very good filly,” Moore said. “She travelled very easily and they've gone too slow for her really. When I moved the race was over very quickly. She is a level above all of them. A performance like that, you don't see normally.”
Bedtime Story's sensational performance was as impressive on the clock as it was to the eye as she surpassed the eight-length winning margin of Three Valleys (Diesis {GB}) in the 2003 G3 Coventry Stakes and the seven-length success of Lady Aurelia (Scat Daddy) in the 2016 G2 Queen Mary Stakes. Closing out with sectionals of 11.38 and 11.57, she hit 35.14 for the last three furlongs which readily eclipsed the 36.05 of the 4-year-old English Oak (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Thursday's Buckingham Palace Stakes over the same trip.
Aidan O'Brien, who like Moore was welcoming his sixth winner of the meeting, said, “We never let Bedtime Story go before and this was the first time she was asked to stretch. Ryan said he couldn't believe it–he said everyone fell away, he said 'go on' and she just took off. He didn't even give her a slap down the shoulder.
“We thought she was probably a Group 1 filly, but we hadn't looked–thinking is one thing and seeing is another, so everyone saw it together today. It was the first time she was ever dropped down, really. She's got an unbelievable pedigree, she's a homebred. She's very special, isn't she?”
Of second placed Pentle Bay, who had been purchased for £400,000 (AU$757,000) by Teme Valley Racing and Ciaron Maher at the Goffs London Sale on Monday, “The winner looks a superstar–she's by a champion, out of a champion. I expected Pentle Bay to run as he did today. He has shown plenty at home and did the race the right way round, which was really key–it's really key for him to relax. He's a horse with a big future,” trainer George Boughey said
“Ciaron Maher and his team are going to have a really fun horse when he does get down to Australia. He's still very raw. I think a race that stands out immediately is probably the [G2] Vintage at Goodwood. Not many New Bays feature this early in the season. He's out of a Galileo mare and the pedigree would suggest that he's going to be a miler, possibly a 10-furlong horse.”
Unbeaten in two starts, Bedtime Story is the fifth foal out of the dual G1 Nunthorpe S. heroine Mecca's Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and is the second stakes winner for her dam alongside G3 Staffordstown Stud S. winner Content (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Mecca's Angel is a full-sister to the G3 Chipchase Stakes and G3 Criterion Stakes winner Markaz (Ire) and a granddaughter of the G3 Prix d'Arenberg winner Desert Dawn (GB) (Belfort {Fr}).
