Oisin Murphy was guilty of identity fraud June 22 in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (G1). His impersonation of Jamie Spencer was so good on Khaadem that it wasn’t until the camera zoomed in on the three-time champion soon after the line that you realized it was him.
It was an impression Alistair McGowan would have been proud of. Murphy sat motionless most of the way and only poked Khaadem’s nose in front about 100 yards out. It was patience personified.
Khaadem is no Battaash (three-time champion sprinter), we know that, but he became the first back-to-back winner of this group 1 since Right Boy in 1959 and, when he gets out on the right side of the bed, he is seriously talented.
Charlie Hills admitted he’s a real character at home on the gallops.
Hills said of Khaadem: “He’s a wonderful horse, but you just wouldn’t know what you are going to get. He’s got a huge amount of ability, but he’s so different 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 a plater.
“He knows more about the game than any of us. He’s a hugely talented horse and has been an absolute pleasure to train.”
Khaadem keeps Hills guessing and he keeps punters guessing, too. Last year he went off 80-1, this time only 14-1, but his odds could have been bigger given he didn’t beat a single horse home on his prep run in the Duke of York Stakes (G2) at last month’s Dante meeting. Spencer shunned him for Mitbaahy , and who could blame him.
This was the Khaadem in all his glory, though. Sharp, slick, and gushing with speed. Everything around him is in slow motion when he’s like this and, as William Buick on Mill Stream and Clifford Lee on Swingalong were asking for absolutely everything, Murphy was asking for nothing. It made for beautiful viewing. He pressed go at the perfect time and Khaadem scored by half a length.
Murphy said: “I enjoyed that! I was doing my best Jamie Spencer impersonation. But what an amazing horse. He’s eight years of age and that was back-to-back wins in this race. That’s an incredible training performance from Charlie Hills and his team. It’s wonderful.
“To be honest, I thought for the majority of the last two furlongs he would win and I was able to enjoy it a little bit. There was a lot of speed on, particularly after a furlong. When it began to slow down late on, he came alive. I just wanted to copy Jamie from last year!”
Hills added of the winner: “What a horse, to win two of these races, plus a Palace House, a Stewards’ Cup, and a King George at Goodwood. Unbelievable.
“He got a fantastic ride there off the pace and he never looked like he was going to get beaten. He traveled beautifully through the race. He loves the place and it’s the first time he’s had the ground pretty much since he ran here last time. I think fast ground is key to him.”
