York next as Battaash sees off rivals in record-breaking King George hat-trick

It took Battaash just over 56 seconds to win a record-breaking third King George Qatar Stakes and Charlie Hills wasted absolutely no time plotting a formula that might help the world's fastest horse end his York hoodoo in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes this month.

Such an exciting horse when he is on his A game, Battaash was caught out by bad behaviour earlier in his career but is deemed better than ever by those closest to him, including devoted groom Bob Grace, who also looked after the rapid sprinter's sire Dark Angel.

There were nothing but positives on the five-year-old's report card as he came home in commanding fashion from Australian raider Houtzen with Ornate third.

Sent off a red-hot 1-4 favourite, Battaash was expected to deliver and perhaps did not match his scintillating efforts in the last two runnings of the £300,000 event but was still way too good for his rivals under Jim Crowley.

Trainer Charlie Hills greets Battaash and Jim Crowley after their King George successCredit: Edward Whitaker

Hills, a Goodwood winner with Vividly on Thursday, said: "He's taking his racing well and we have a good team at home and know exactly what we can do.

"It's such a pleasure to have a wonderful horse like him. He's so lightly raced for a five-year-old and he's now started to take his racing better than ever. He takes everything in his stride and is less stressed at the races."

Watch the King George Stakes here

Paddy Power made the Hamdan Al Makotum-owned Battaash 5-2 for the Nunthorpe, a race he has performed respectably in but never thrilled like he can.

"I think we've got to go for it," added Hills. "There are only so many Group 1 races over five furlongs in England so we've got to. He's never run badly in it and the track should suit him in theory, but we've taken him up the night before the last two times and we might take him up the morning of the race this time. That would be the only difference."

Should it work, the Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, Longchamp's Prix de l'Abbaye – which the lightning-quick star won in 2017 – and a trip to the Breeders' Cup could also be on the agenda.

Charlie Hills: 'I think we've got to go for the Nunthorpe'Credit: Edward Whitaker

The Lambourn trainer, among the sport's coolest characters, continued: "The pressure wasn't too bad, pretty relaxed, although having an odds-on shot in a big Group 2, which he was trying to win for the third time, was stressful. It's never been done before and we take a lot of pride in that.

"He travelled powerfully and the second had some really good form, but he always looked like he was in command. Maybe he was idling a bit – Jim said that – but perhaps that's a good sign.

"Goodwood is one of the best meetings of the year and it's a great to have winners here."

As a gelding, Battaash will have no career at stud, but the fact he can be enjoyed for more seasons is no bad thing.

"To be involved in a horse like him is great and it's a brilliant team effort," concluded Hills, enjoying every minute – or second in Battaash's case – of another glorious day.

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