'He's lost none of his zip' - Battaash on course for King's Stand defence

Battaash came through his first serious exercise of 2021 in style on Wednesday morning and his trainer Charlie Hills is relaxed about missing the Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Temple Stakes on Saturday with the star sprinter, who will head straight to Royal Ascot for the King's Stand Stakes.

Last seen winning the Nunthorpe Stakes in August, the seven-year-old has lit up the sport with his electric performances and after watching Battaash work Hills said the signs suggested he had lost none of his zip.

Owned by the late Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell racing operation, Battaash won Haydock's Temple Stakes in 2018 and 2019 only to finish second behind Blue Point in the King's Stand in those years.

The coronavirus pandemic meant the Group 2 was not staged last year and a fresh Battaash headed straight to the King's Stand, where he readily beat stablemate Equilateral.

Watch Battaash win last year's King Stand

A problem over the winter meant the son of Dark Angel was never going to be ready for a prep this time round but he thrilled Hills and regular work-rider Dane O'Neill when stretching his legs in advance of the Group 1 on June 15.

"Dane came and sat on him this morning and I was very pleased," Hills said on Wednesday. "He said he was moving great and was delighted with him.

"It was pretty much the first serious bit of work he's done this year, although he did a swinging canter last week as well, but this is the first time Dane has sat on him this year and he knows him as well as anyone having ridden most of the work on him."

Charlie Hills: trainer celebrating his Royal Ascot win last yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

Battaash is the 3-1 favourite for the King's Stand and Hills added: "Royal Ascot is certainly on the agenda and we've a good four weeks until then, so there's plenty of time. I'm happy where he is and not having a prep run last year wasn't a disaster when he won the King's Stand first time out.

"It doesn't look like he's lost any zip; he's nice and relaxed in his canters and is very much a pro in his work now. He seems to be really enjoying life."

The seven-year-old will carry the stable's hopes in the King's Stand as the aforementioned Equilateral, a 10-1 chance who had a fruitful time at Meydan earlier in the year, will not line up.

King's Stand entries and betting

"He's had a setback and is out for a while now unfortunately, but we'll try to get him back for Dubai next year," the Lambourn trainer explained.

Khaadem, a general 16-1 for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, is also set to miss the royal meeting, but Mutasaabeq, who finished seventh in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, is being targeted at the Jersey Stakes there.

"We were just unfortunate with the ground at Haydock for Khaadem the other day and he's been unlucky with conditions," Hills said.

Mutasaabeq: not disgraced in the 2,000 GuineasCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We're going to skip Royal Ascot with him and consider Salisbury's Cathedral Stakes on June 13, while we'll look at the Jersey for Mutasaabeq.

"I thought he ran well in the 2,000 Guineas. The draw ended up being to his disadvantage as the first three home were drawn in four, two and three and he was in 12, so the race unfolded on the wrong side for us, but I think it was still a creditable effort."

Mujbar had been a possible Classic contender for the yard, but reverts to sprinting for the Casumo Bet10Get10 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock on Saturday after finishing eighth in Newbury's Greenham last month.

If that goes well, he could bid to uphold family honour in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

"He's going to run at Haydock and the ground should be perfect for him," Hills continued.

"He's by a sprinter in Muhaarar and the mare Madany was a sprinter, while his dad also won the Commonwealth Cup for us and his half-brother Eqtidaar did as well, so that would say he should be a sprinter and he loves it soft – that's the key to him."

Read more:

Battaash: the speed machine who is the pride and joy of trainer and groom

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Older and wiser Battaash saunters to record-breaking fourth King George success

Bob Grace: 'I've been at a Test match and people have asked about Battaash'

Members' Club: 'If you sit on Battaash . . . it's a different kettle of fish altogether'

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