Qatar King George Stakes |
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| Group 2, Goodwood 15:35 £312,000 added, 3yo plus, 5f, Class 1  |
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| Friday 3rd August 2018 | |
1 Battaash 8/11F
2 Take Cover 20/1
3 Muthmir 16/1
11 ran Distances: 4l, ½l, nk
Time: 56.60s (fast by 0.30s)
A quite imperious performance by Battaash as he claims back-to-back wins in the King George Qatar Stakes
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Jim Crowley originally seemed content to take a lead off the veteran Take Cover, but after barely a furlong he had switched back inside and was soon towards the head of affairs.
Kachy attempted to match strides, but by halfway it was obvious nothing was going to be quick enough to stay with the 8-11 favourite.
Inside the final two furlongs Charlie Hills’ Battaash just pulled further clear and crossed the line four lengths ahead of some of the fastest horses in training.
What made the performance all the more remarkable was Battaash was conceding 3lb and more to his rivals, and his defeat at Royal Ascot can now be forgotten.
The veteran Take Cover, now 11 and a dual winner of the race, finished second with Muthmir, in the same ownership as the winner, just holding off Mr Lupton for third.
Battaash is now around the even-money mark for the Nunthorpe at York later this month, where it did not go to plan 12 months ago as he got very worked up beforehand.
Hills said: “It was pretty special, he’s some horse. Jim always looked in control.
“It was fantastic, apart from the fact that they split a bit at the start and he had no company it all went to plan. Jim had no option but to let him go forward.
“He’s been training a lot better at home since Ascot and Gary Witheford has done a great job with him at the stalls. He’s growing up and I think that’s the best he’s behaved in the whole of his career.
“Today he came right back to his best and there is a great programme ahead with three weeks between each of three races, starting with the Nunthorpe.
“He’ll go to York, then there’s a race in Ireland (Flying Five) and then France (Prix de l’Abbaye).”
He added: “I don’t think the Everest (in Australia) is on the agenda, as it would rule a lot of races out over here, but America (Breeders’ Cup) might be something we think about.”
Crowley said: “He’s the Batmobile. He dragged me to the front, there isn’t a horse in Europe fast enough to lead him.
“This year I’ve noticed he’s a bigger, stronger horse. I don’t think he was in the same form at Ascot as today.
“Last year I got to the start early at York and it blew his brains. I can’t wait (to go back).
“I’ve been lucky with some good sprinters, such as Ertijaal in Dubai, but he tops the lot and is as good a horse as I’ve probably ever ridden.”
Betfred King George Stakes (Group 2)
£312,000 added, 3yo plus, 5f, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good to Firm
| Pos | Dr | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | (1) | Battaash (IRE) 8/11f | Jim Crowley 9-5 |
C Hills | 4 | |
| 2nd | (2) | 4 | Take Cover 20/1 | Andrea Atzeni 9-2 |
D C Griffiths | 11 |
| 3rd | (7) | ½ | Muthmir (IRE) 16/1 | Dane O'Neill 9-2 |
W J Haggas | 8 |
| 4th | (8) | nk | Mr Lupton (IRE) 20/1 | P Hanagan 9-2 |
R A Fahey | 5 |
| 5th | (5) | 2½ | Kachy 8/1 | R Kingscote 9-2 |
Tom Dascombe | 5 |
| 6th | (6) | nk | Havana Grey 9/1 | P J McDonald 9-2 |
K R Burke | 3 |
| 7th | (9) | hd | Stone Of Destiny 66/1 | Oisin Murphy 8-13 |
A M Balding | 3 |
| 8th | (3) | ½ | Heartache 16/1 | M Harley 8-10 |
C G Cox | 3 |
| 9th | (4) | ½ | Main Desire (IRE) 25/1 | W Buick 8-10 |
M L W Bell | 3 |
| 10th | (10) | nk | Sioux Nation (USA) 6/1 | R L Moore 8-13 |
A P O'Brien | 3 |
| 11th | (11) | 2¼ | Duke Of Firenze 100/1 | M Dwyer 9-2 |
D C Griffiths | 9 |
