Goodwood, England: Battaash was crowned the sprint king at Glorious Goodwood on Friday when scorching to victory in the Group 2 King George Stakes, the showpiece race of the penultimate day’s racing at the scenic Sussex racecourse.
The winner was also rewarding Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, with his first success at this year’s festival.
Battaash scored by two and a half lengths from Godolphin’s Profitable, ridden by James Doyle for trainer Clive Cox.
Winning rider Jim Crowley said: “I don’t think I’ve ridden a better sprinter. I went to ride him work at Charlie’s and it was like riding a motorbike up the gallops. He was very fast.
“I had to keep a lid on him and he’s got plenty left in the tank. I was worried about the ground a little bit but Charlie wasn’t. He was quite adamant he’d go on the ground. Horses in his pedigree have gone on ground with a bit of cut, but he’ll probably be even more effective on better ground.”
The Charlie Hills-trained Battaash looked very impressive when winning the Group 3 Coral Charge and was even more likable on Friday, where he professionally went about his job and comfortably came home the winner.
Hills has long thought about sending his sprint star over to America to have a go at the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, and this performance must surely have helped the handler make up his mind about the exciting son of Dark Angel.
Hills said: “I was delighted with his performance. Obviously it’s drying ground, but he seemed to handle it no problem at all. He’s just a three-year-old who’s improving and going through the ranks.”
Earlier, Ryan Moore demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the best jockeys in the world when booting home the first three winners, including one for Derby-winning Dubai owner Saeed Suhail.
The consistent son of Poet’s Word kicked-off the top-class British rider’s three-timer when comfortably seeing off the challenge of Second Step, ridden by Jamie Spencer.
Saeed Suhail won the Derby in 2003 with Kris Kinm who, like Poet’s Word, was also trained by Sir Michael Stoute.
Narrowly beaten in the Huxley Stakes at Chester in May, Poet’s Voice claimed the Group 3 prize by a length and a half as Scarlet Dragon finished well under apprentice James Hollie Doyle.
Moore said: “He jumped out very smoothly and was very relaxed. He’s got a great attitude and handled that ground well. I had to be patient with him and he has the makings of being a proper horse.
“He’s a horse that can only get better. He won the handicap on this card 12 months ago. He does everything right and hopefully he’ll keep progressing. I think he will be Group One class.”
Bruce Raymond, racing manager to Saeed Suhail, added: “I think Sir Michael was a little bit apprehensive about the ground, but I thought he would handle it.
“He laboured a bit in the last two furlongs but I felt when Ryan gave him a whack he would pick up again.
“He has had some minor problems but nothing major. Sir Michael wanted to go to the Eclipse but Saeed Suhail didn’t as he thought a mile and a half is his distance.
“I think the Canadian International could be an option but I don’t know what Sir Michael’s plans are for him. Unless you step him up, there is nothing much for him here.”
