No stopping brilliant Battaash at Goodwood

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Dubai - The horse, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of Finance, completes a hat trick of the Group 2 King George Stakes

In the end, there was no denying Battaash as he kept his tryst with destiny.
The five-year-old from Dark Angel, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of Finance, waltzed into the history books by completing a hat trick of the King George Stakes on Friday.
Saddled by Charlie Hills and the mount of Jim Crowley, Battaash became the first horse to win the Group 2 contest thrice in a row, at the Glorious Goodwood festival.
Battaash, a gamely second to the double Royal Ascot winner Blue Point in June, faced a late challenge from Australian mare Houtzen, but he unfurled his class to win the five-furlong sprint by 3/4 lengths at the Goodwood Racecourse.
With Blue Point now put to stud, Battaash is now the new 'King of Speed.'
Following his ninth career victory, his connections revealed that Battaash will be primed for the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on August 23. Battaash has finished fourth over the past two seasons, with dogs barking at the start proving to be a distraction last year.
Sheikh Hamdan was elated to witness his horse create history.
"Absolutely," Sheikh Hamdan told Racing TV, when asked if he was proud of Battash's achievement.
"Of course, I enjoyed it and particularly this, because it is the third time here and Goodwood is a very nice racecourse. Every year he has run differently. The first year, he ran very fast from the beginning. And the second year was alright as well. This year he idled a lot," he added.
Sheikh Hamdan is now keen on seeing him win at York.
"There was a dog barking behind him and he got a bit nervous (last year). He is going to York this year and I hope he will run better," said Sheikh Hamdan.
Meanwhile, Hills felt Battaash is now showing amazing maturity.
"Sprints are funny because anything can happen. The draw is such an important thing and where the pace is in the race. Luckily, he gave us a nice lead and after that I think he controlled the race pretty well," Hills told Racing TV.
"He's probably gone a little bit the other way now. If anything, he's probably idling a little bit in front today, which is a great sign I think because it means he's racing better. There's a good programme for him up to the end of the year, there are three or four races left between now and the end of the season and hopefully we can take it one at a time," he added.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Hamdan's Enbihaar will contest the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes for fillies and mares on the final day of the festival on Saturday.
james@khaleejtimes.com
 

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