Outsider Khaadem upsets the odds in Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

Seven-year-old Khaadem caused a major shock to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes under Jamie Spencer at record odds of 80/1.

The Charlie Hills-trained gelding came from the back of the pack to collar Sacred, with King’s Stand runner-up Highfield Princess in third on the stand-side rail.

Khaadem’s previous best effort in the race was fourth in 2020, and he had failed to register a win in each of his previous Group 1 runs. But the formbook went out of the window as he turned in a personal best to win the £1m race.

Speaking to ITV immediately after the race a shocked Jamie Spencer commented “I followed Frankie Dettori and Tom Marquand just like it was a cycle race and let them do the hard work. I hoped when I pulled out I had a little bit to go on. 

“Winning Group Ones is hard, and getting on the horses in Group Ones is the hardest part, but it’s a fantastic day and I’m going to enjoy it.

“I sit beside Frankie (in the weighing room) and I’m going to hold it (this win) to him tomorrow. It was looking bleak in the last few days having to listen to him, and even one of my friends said ‘he’s going to be insufferable’ after Coppice won. At least I’ve had a little bit of a fightback.”