The combination of Ascot’s straight track, six furlongs and fast ground again worked the oracle for Khaadem as the eight-year-old gelding made it consecutive wins in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, the headline contest on the final day of Royal Ascot 2024.

Oisin Murphy was in the saddle this time, with last year’s winning jockey Jamie Spencer aboard Dr Jim and Fitri Hay’s other runner, Mitbaahy, like Khaadem trained by Charlie Hills.

Murphy produced the perfect hold-up on Khaadem as Swingalong, Shartash and Quinault set the fractions, chased by fancied duo Believing and Mill Stream.

Mill Stream, partnered by William Buick, looked to have every chance entering the final furlong, but Khaadem had yet to be asked a question just in behind and finding a lovely gap, he quickened up in style to record a half-length success over the tough Swingalong, with Mill Stream a length and a quarter away in third.

Khaadem became the first eight-year-old to triumph in the six-furlong sprint and the first back-to-back winner since Right Boy in 1958 and 1959.

Khaadem made it back-to-back wins in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes for Dr Jim and Fitri Hay | Photo: Bill Selwyn


Dr Hay said: “Khaadem never gives up. He doesn’t know he’s eight years old. He thinks he’s three or two or something, and he just keeps going. He loves this ground, he loves Ascot and he just goes.

“Last year I couldn’t believe he was 80-1 – I just thought that was the most stupid odds I’d ever seen in my life. Today I think he was 14-1, still quite long odds for a horse of his ability. You cannot underestimate him. To have a horse running here is a huge privilege; to have a horse winning here is unbelievable.”

Murphy said: “What an amazing horse; eight years of age and back-to-back wins in the race – an incredible training performance from Charlie Hills and his team. Wonderful!

“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 Spencer from last year!”

Callum Shepherd, who was ‘jocked off’ Ambiente Friendly in the Derby, enjoyed one of his biggest days in the saddle when guiding Isle Of Jura to a decisive success in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (1m4f).

Last year’s St Leger winner Continuous and Qatar Racing’s progressive Middle Earth were the fancied pair according to the betting, but they couldn’t lay a glove on Victorious Racing’s Isle Of Jura, who enjoyed a lucrative spell racing in Bahrain earlier this year.

The New Approach gelding put his seal on matters over a furlong from home and recorded a three and three-quarter length success over French raider Goliath, providing Shepherd and trainer George Scott with their first strike at the Royal meeting.

Callum Shepherd enjoys his Hardwicke Stakes victory on Isle Of Jura | Photo: Bill Selwyn


Shepherd said: “Isle Of Jura has been amazing. We took him over for that handicap series in Bahrain initially, and obviously you hope he’s going to be better than that, but at that stage we had no idea. He just kept improving; he’s never let us down and has got better with every start.

“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 so they could enjoy him on home soil, so to speak, and he’s come back and continued to climb.

“Isle Of Jura was so good today – he loves quick ground and stays a mile and a half very well. Six weeks ago I thought I’d found my diamond [Ambiente Friendly] and that wasn’t to be, but Isle Of Jura has certainly blossomed into one.”

The day’s opening contest, the Listed Chesham Stakes (7f) for two-year-olds, saw a stunning display by Coolmore’s Bedtime Story. The daughter of Frankel, trained by Aidan O’Brien, hammered Pentle Bay by almost ten lengths under Ryan Moore, looking every inch a Classic candidate for next year.

Wathnan Racing’s excellent week continued as recent recruit Haatem, runner-up to stable companion Rosallion in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, captured the Group 3 Jersey Stakes (7f) under James Doyle, riding for the Richard Hannon stable, while Cheveley Park Stud’s improving filly Unequal Love, trained by William Haggas, defied stall one to capture the Wokingham Handicap (6f) for Tom Marquand.