Khaadem

Hong Kong is the December place to be for world-class horseracing and Sunday's Longines Hong Kong International Races--offering some HK$130 million (£12.5 million/US$16.7 million) across four races--has once again attracted a veritable who's who from a variety of racing jurisdictions. In a real racing rarity, each of the winners from last year's meeting returns to Sha Tin and each has realistic chances to repeat the dose. Indeed, it would be a complete shock if two of the four--Romantic Warrior (Acclamation) and Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress)--fail to deliver in the HK$40-million...

Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is nine, but clearly hasn't lost a step. The same can be said for his 54-year-old jockey Frankie Dettori. He, too, is still getting it done. But can the geriatric duo pull off a win in the GI Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint? As well as Khaadem has been running this year, it's entirely possible. "That's two old boys together," trainer Charlie Hills said of the horse-jockey combination. Dettori will be the second oldest jockey in this year's Breeders' Cup behind only 60-year-old Mike Smith...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Silawi at Woodbine. Dubawi Gelding Claims The Canadian International Wathnan Racing's Silawi (Dubawi) earned his first top-tier win in the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine on October 4 (video). Bred by Wertheimer and Frere, he is trained by Hamad Al Jehani. Sold for €380,000 out of the Arqana Arc Sale in 2023, the five-year-old gelding is also a winner of the G3 Winter Hill...

When 'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) went wire-to-wire to take out the 2023 GI Pacific Classic, it made trainer Bob Baffert the winningest trainer in the relatively short history of the event with seven winners, surpassing the late Bobby Frankel. The Hall of Fame conditioner will have every chance to extend that record when he sends out fellow 'Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) in a compelling renewal of the 10-furlong feature Saturday afternoon, with an all-expenses-paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Classic over the same course and distance...

The G3 Solario Stakes betting market was thrown into disarray late on Friday evening when the news broke that the favoured Publish (Kingman), representing John and Thady Gosden and Juddmonte, had been withdrawn due to unsuitable ground. The Gosdens will still be keenly observing the result, however, even though none of the remaining trainers are within shouting distance of John Gosden's record seven wins. With Publish's defection and G1 2000 Guineas implications on the line, step forward Pacific Avenue (Dubawi) into poll position. Tagged a 'TDN Rising Star', the Godolphin...

It's been nearly 30 years since trainer Bob Baffert won his first GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes with Batroyale back in 1995. The Hall of Fame conditioner looks to have a stranglehold on this year's renewal of the seven-furlong contest, as he sends out a pair of big-money fillies, each campaigned by previous Debutante scorers. Front and center is 'TDN Rising Star' Nooni (Win Win Win), the $1.8-million topper from this year's OBS March Sale, who looks to become the second winner of the event in the last four years...

ASCOT, UK -- Far from the madding crowd of the royal meeting, the exploits of those five heady days were still being celebrated at Ascot on Friday. And rightly so, for this was the day of the annual Royal Ascot winning breeders' lunch, a lovely touch from the racecourse to recognise those who make this great sport happen.  There's no one-upmanship here. Every breeder will tell you how much they need the owners - most of them are also owners themselves - and all the various participants in racing matter,...

Connections of Moqadama (Ire), a winning sister to back-to-back Royal Ascot scorer Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), say that they want to "strike while the iron is still hot" with the broodmare in the upcoming Tattersalls Online Sale.  Consigned by Castleton Lyons, Moqadama will become the first US-based horse to sell on the Tattersalls Online platform. Bidding opens on Wednesday with the sister to the dual Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes scorer being sold in foal to American Pharoah.  Kerry native Pat Hayes, who is the farm manager at the...

Shock Royal Ascot hero Khaadem (Ire) is likely to be supplemented for the Pertemps Network July Cup S. at Newmarket later this month providing conditions remain dry in the lead up to the race. Charlie Hills' seven-year-old has always threatened to be a high-class speedster and finally landed a long-awaited Group One victory when running out an 80-1 winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at the royal meeting. The son of Dark Angel (Ire) is reported to have bounced out of his Ascot run well and connections now...

Two wildcards have been added to the upcoming Tattersalls July Sale--set to take place from Tuesday, July 11 through Friday, July 14--including White Jasmine (Ire) (Dark Angel [Ire]), a full-sister to this year's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S. winner Khaadem and the first mare in foal to champion and six-time Group 1 winner Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) ever to be sold at public auction. She joins the 3-year-old gelding Ethical Diamond (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), fresh of his maiden score at Limerick last month, as additions to the...

   A look back at the winners of Goodwood's King George S. illustrates how sprint lines permeate all areas of the breed, from fellow sprinters to Derby winners. The win of Khaadem (Ire) in the G2 King George S. at the Qatar 'Glorious' Goodwood Festival has further enhanced the great record in the race of his trainer Charlie Hills, who has now saddled the winner in five of the past six years. Hills has, of course, been helped by having had the mighty Battaash (Ire) under his care, that great...

Making it a dozen group 1 wins this summer, Frankie Dettori had Advertise (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) to aid his cause of streaking through the major European events in Deauville's G1 Larc Prix Maurice de Gheest on Sunday. Occupying 11-5 favouritism in this unique 6 1/2-furlong test, Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited's G1 Commonwealth Cup and G1 Phoenix S. hero and G1 July Cup runner-up travelled strongly behind compatriot Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who provided an ideal lead in the dominant group racing furthest from the rail. Taking over approaching the...