Khaadem flying as Charlie Hills eyes another speed thrill in Sprint Cup

Fresh from a Group 1 sprint success with the blistering Battaash in the Nunthorpe at York last week, Charlie Hills is in an upbeat mood as he eyes another top-level triumph with Stewards' Cup winner Khaadem.

Always highly regarded by Hills, Khaadem warmed up for next Saturday's Sprint Cup by thrilling the trainer on Wednesday morning. The colt, who runs in the familiar blue of Hamdan Al Maktoum, justified strong support in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood, where he impressed with a cosy victory, and is a general 5-1 chance for the Sprint Cup, for which Advertise and Ten Sovereigns are disputing favouritism.

"He's all set for Haydock and I was really pleased with the way he worked yesterday; it was probably the best I've seen him go," the Lambourn-based Hills said.

"He looks like he's improving and that's mentally too – he's brilliant now, not a problem at all. Kieran Shoemark rode him and said he felt better than before Goodwood."

Hills's father Barry captured the Sprint Cup with Royal Applause in 1997 and ten years later with Red Clubs. Hills has yet to win the race but went close in 2015 when Strath Burn and Magical Memory – who had also won that year's Stewards' Cup – finished second and third behind Twilight Son.

"We've always thought a lot of Khaadem and he hasn't got many miles on the clock, but I think he's ready for race like this now and he's probably the best chance I've had," added Hills, whose challenger may be even better if Haydock's best Flat race is staged in easy conditions.

Going for the last five Haydock Sprint Cups

2018 heavy
2017 heavy
2016 soft
2015 good to soft
2014 good

"You've got to respect Advertise and Ten Sovereigns as they are Group 1 winners and we've won a Listed race and good handicap, but, like I say, he's ready for this.

"The ground shouldn't really matter and a bit of cut could help; it certainly wouldn't be a problem. It seems to chuck it down that day, but Dark Angels seem to like a bit of juice in the ground, like Battaash, who is pretty versatile with the ground, as I think this horse will be."

Next weekend could be an important one for the stable as Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Phoenix Of Spain is being targeted at the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday week.

Owned by Tony Wechsler and Ann Plummer, he failed to fire in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last time, but, as with Khaadem, his latest leg-stretch left Hills smiling.

Phoenix Of Spain: caught the eye when working on Thursday morningCredit: Patrick McCann

He said on Thursday: "Jamie Spencer came and rode him this morning and we were delighted. It looks like he's got that zip back now and he's in the Moulin next week, which is where I think we'll go.

"He was going well at Goodwood and suddenly seemed to drop the lot and not finish his race. Maybe he wasn't that well suited by the track, but we were very happy with him this morning – as happy as we've been for a long time

"He showed plenty of speed in his work today, so I think we'll stick to a mile at this stage."

Khaadem latest in Hills's production line of sprinters

Charlie Hills seems to have a sweet touch with sprinters and here are five of the best he has slipped a saddle over.

Battaash
Probably the fastest horse Hills – and many others – will ever train and he showed just why with a rocket-fuelled injection of pace in the Nunthorpe last week. Far from the easiest to deal with – although he gets better every day – the son of Dark Angel is among the world's best when on his A game.

Muhaarar: champion sprinter in 2015Credit: Edward Whitaker

Muhaarar
Whisked off to stud at the end of his three-year-old campaign, so does not have the public following Battaash has, but enjoyed a sublime 2015 when being crowned champion sprinter following wins in the Commonwealth Cup, July Cup, Prix Maurice de Gheest and British Champions Sprint.

Magical Memory
This likeable grey came through the handicap ranks, recording a convincing Khaadem-like success in the Stewards' Cup before his third in the Sprint Cup. Unable to nail a top-flight victory, he nonetheless gave his enthusiastic owners Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds plenty to cheer, winning a handful of Group races.

Strath Burn
Two wins from 16 starts does not tell the whole tale of Strath Burn's talents, but he matched Magical Memory's best Racing Post Rating of 118 when pushing Twilight Son close as a 33-1 shot in the 2015 Sprint Cup, while his biggest victory came in Newbury's Group 3 Hackwood Stakes that year.

Cotai Glory
Blessed with raw speed similar to Battaash, Cotai Glory was, perhaps, a little like his former stablemate, not the most straightforward and won the Molecomb as a juvenile before unseating George Baker with the Flying Childers in reach. Produced a prodigious effort when a 33-1 neck second to Profitable in the 2016 King's Stand.

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