Ageless Khaadem Enters Hong Kong Sprint on a Roll

This year's Woodford Stakes (G2T) winner at Keeneland, Khaadem (IRE) will attempt to become the first 9-year-old to win the HK$28 million (approx. US$3.6 million) Hong Kong Sprint (G1). The two-time group 1 winner who won a pair of races in his juvenile campaign in 2018, will enter the Hong Kong International Races Dec. 14 at Sha Tin off a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1T). The Dark Angel (IRE) gelding defied odds of 80-1 for a sensational victory in Britain's premier sprint, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1) in 2023, and became that race's oldest winner when successful as an 8-year-old in 2024. In 2025 Khaadem failed to shine in a handful of starts on home soil, but found a new lease on life in the United States with the grade 2 win at Keeneland and Breeders' Cup placing at Del Mar. It has been the plan to target Sha Tin since then, and trainer Charlie Hills is optimistic that 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. "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 Woodford Stakes, producing a typically electric last-to-first run. 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. "He'd won in blinkers before when we were running him over 5 furlongs, but we took them off when we stepped him up to 6 furlongs," Hills said. "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 been in America and has really enjoyed training over there." Khaadem will have local champion Ka Ying Rising (NZ) standing in his way Dec. 14, 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."