The curtain will fall on the 2022 edition of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Qatar Goodwood Festival today.
This year’s edition has had special importance with the huge turnout of spectators at Goodwood, indicating the keenness to be part of the racing extravaganza, being a racing landmark in the UK and Europe.
QREC delegation, led by its chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi and accompanied by Vice-Chairman and Asian Equestrian Federation President Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya, Board Member and Al Shaqab Executive Director Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Board Members Khalid bin Mohammed Al Ali and Ahmad bin Mohammed Alabdulmalik, Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi and Director of Chairman's Office and Manager of QREC Marketing Department Hesham Mohammed Al Ali, has been there at Goodwood over the past few days.
Yesterday, the fourth and penultimate day of the Festival had a seven-race card day, the feature and fourth race was the Gr2 King George Qatar Stakes.
The 1,000 sprint for three-year-olds and older is a veritable test of raw speed and has been a key feature of the Qatar sponsored Goodwood Festival since 1911. This year, the particularly open contest allowed an opportunity for fresh talent, following years of domination by whirlwind champions such as Battaash (Dark Angel) and Take Cover (Singspiel).
The winner of the 2022 renewal was the Mrs Fitri Hay-owned Khaadem (Dark Angel x White Daffodil) for trainer Charles Hills and jockey Ryan Moore. QREC Vice-Chairman Al Attiya crowned the winners after the race.
Khaadem takes 2nd Qatar Goodwood Festival success
Consistently performing to a high standard throughout his career and coming into the race in winning form, the Fitri and Jim Hay-owned Khaadem (Dark Angel x White Daffodil) bounded to success in the Gr.2 King George Qatar Stakes.
Trained by Charlie Hills, who dominated this race with Battaash (Dark Angel) between 2017 to 2020, the six-year-old has twice finished fourth at Gr.1 level and his success in the Gr.2 King George Qatar Stakes is the highlight of his 23-race career to date.
Winner of the 27 runner Stewards Cup in 2019, Khaadem is now a dual-winner at the Qatar Goodwood Festival and provided his owners with a second win of the week, following Royal Scotsman (Gleneagles), who landed the Gr.2 Richmond Stakes on Thursday.
Ridden by Ryan Moore, the six-year-old followed the blistering early speed of the Czech-trained Ponntos (Power) and travelled with ease. Ranging up to join the leader inside the final 300m, Khaadem pulled clear of his rivals and held off the fast-finishing Raasel (Showcasing) by a neck. Never-nearer, Caturra (Mehmas) stayed on well to take third.
Khaadem was bred by Yeomanstown Stud. Khaadem’s dam, White Daffodil (Footstepsinthesand) won two races and has also produced Log Out Island (Dark Angel), who is a Listed winner and Gr.2 placed. The second dam, Sparky’s Song (Electric) produced the Listed winner Lady Links (Bahamian Bounty), who is the dam of dual Listed winner Selinka (Selkirk), herself the dam of the Gr.3 winner Hit The Bid (Exceed And Excel).
