'Jamie is my son, he's part of our family' - vintage Spencer as Khaadem springs 80-1 shock

This has been a week that hasn't been short on shocks and long-priced winners but, in the context of a truly international Group 1 sprint, 80-1 Khaadem running down Sacred may have made off with the entire biscuit barrel.

For close observers of the seven-year-old, his trick of dropping Jamie Spencer behind the stall when the blindfold went on may have been marginally more predictable than the relentless late rattle he conjured up, which left trainer Charlie Hills and owner Jim Hay in a state of shock.

Spencer has never been other than a Group 1-calibre jockey but, while such successes have arrived at intervals in Ireland, France, Germany, the US and Australia, it was clear to see how much a first British victory at the highest level since Fame And Glory won the Gold Cup in 2011 meant to him.

"It's difficult to put into words what Jim and Fitri [Hay] have been like as friends to me for a long time," said Spencer. "They've been great people towards me. For myself, it's great my own children will be watching this. In years before when I was flying at this meeting, they wouldn't have understood but they understand now. It's nice when you get a text from them saying well done."

Spencer added: "Winning Group 1s is hard and getting on the horses is probably the hardest part. It's a fantastic day and I'm going to enjoy it. I sit besides Frankie in the weighing room and we're going on holiday on Sunday. It was looking pretty bleak in terms of listening to him after the last few days so I've had a little bit of a fightback!"

A delighted Jamie Spencer after winning the JubileeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Asked about the moment Khaadem reared up just before loading, Spencer said: "He's last in with the blinds so you need to get it right. Today everything went right. Sometimes the stars align and everything goes right."

Jim Hay’s first thoughts were also towards the jockey who has worn his and his wife's pink and emerald silks on so many of their best racing days. He said: "What can you say? Great job, Charlie. And Jamie? He's my son; he's part of our family."

The Gulf-based Hay said: "That horse deserved that. The funny thing is he hates Dubai. Equilateral loves Dubai, but he bloody hates it. But when he comes back here he never runs a bad race. He likes fast ground, he likes this track. He sticks his head out, and goes."

Hay also suggested the Entain share price might open down a few ticks at the start of business on Monday, adding: "I don't think you want to talk to Mike Dillon or anyone from Ladbrokes today – they're kind of hurting a bit. I thought he was a reasonably good each-way bet.

"At Ascot you shouldn't try and bet winners. Try and bet something that will finish in the first three, four or five and try get bookies offering six places. That's a good bet. Don't imagine you're going to back a winner in every race because you won't."

For a trainer who has trained some of the fastest horses in Britain in the years since taking over from his father, Hills has had more bad bounces of the ball than good in this race, while Khaadem never even got to run in last season’s King’s Stand after sitting down in the stalls.

While he took a moment to comprehend what had just happened, the memory of all the hard work he and assistant Jamie Insole have put into this horse in the mornings soon rendered the mysterious rational again.

"Unbelievable," said Hills. "I don't think he's ever really got the credit he deserves. I've always believed in him. He does have his quirks but most sprinters do. It's just amazing where we've got to with him, at his age.

Khaadem with Jamie Spencer and owner Jim Hay Credit: Edward Whitaker

"He was down to [a handicap mark of] 104 before his last start. He was in the Wokingham and I just really wanted to run him over six again. Last year he won the Group 2 [over five] and he looked a real blast-out type. I was just really keen to take the blinkers off him and try and train him like a proper horse. Do it the right way and teach him again how to race properly. Just drop him in, so I thought Jamie was the perfect jockey for him."

Asked about Khaadem's momentary hot-headedness pre-race, Hills showed betrayed neither surprise nor alarm.

"With this horse, anything can happen, so I wasn't too worried," he said. "Last year he tried to race without the jockey. I've always had massive faith in this horse and that's why I've kept him for so long. He won the Stewards' Cup so the trip was never a worry. He's very fast and now he's learned to race properly again, he's hopefully going to compete at the top level."

Khaadem was a great deal better fancied when fourth in the Shadwell silks in the 2020 edition of this race and Hills has twice seen high hopes for Magical Memory dashed.

He said: "We've been trying to win this for a while and we've had some good chances over the years. We've had a tough, tough week and just to win a race like this, the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee, is fantastic."

At 80-1 Khaadem erased the previous record for the longest-priced winner of this race, previously held by 40-1 shot Kearney in 1980. The presence of three Australian raiders as well as Hong Kong’s own Wellington propelled the race past turnover for any previous race supporting the World Pool, the £6.6 million worth of business beating the previous mark set in the 2022 Derby.

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