King's Stand Stakes |
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| Group 1, Ascot 15:35 Winner: £148,000, 3yo plus, 5f, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 16th June 2020 | |
1 Battaash 5/6F
2. Equilateral 9/1
3. Liberty Beach 4/1
11 ran Distances: 2¼l, shd, 1l
Time: 58.64s (fast by 0.36s)
Battaash is a class act, taking the win on his third attempt in the Kings Stand Stakes at @Ascot pic.twitter.com/4VfKkOd3jP
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) June 16, 2020
Having finished runner-up to Blue Point in 2018 and 2019, Battaash made it third time lucky in the five-furlong highlight of Royal Ascot.
The six-year-old gelding, owned and bred by Hamdan Al Maktoum, never looked in any serious danger today as he blasted away to win by two and a quarter lengths from stablemate Equilateral. Returned the hot 5/6 favourite, Battaash handed a 26.5/1 double to jockey Jim Crowley following the success of Motakhayyel in the opening Buckingham Palace Handicap.
Charlie Hills said: “Fantastic, he was really on his ‘A’ game today. He was beautifully relaxed before the race and as soon as the gates opened you could see he was going to be very hard to beat.
“He has been quite relaxed in his work at home, until Saturday when Jane rode him and he was really quite strong in the first half of the gallop, I think he’d got to the point really when we needed to get a race into him. The race will do him the world of good, we can train him off today.
“Obviously we’ll have to speak with Sheikh Hamdan, but I am really looking forward to going back to Goodwood to try and win the King George there for the fourth time, I think that would be some achievement to do that.
“We didn’t really have a choice but to go forward. However, he always looked in command today. It’s a real shame that Sheikh Hamdan is not here to witness it, but it’s great to finally win a King’s Stand with him.
“I was slightly tense, but I’ve lived every emotion with him now. We have been beaten here twice before and three times, I don’t think I could have dealt with that.
“We always think his ace card from the two to the one-furlong pole is that he can get horses off the bridle and he gets them all going whilst he is still cruising. Battaash is a very hard horse to beat when he is like that.
“Bob [Grace, groom] probably gets a stride slower every year, but the horse now goes at the same pace that Bob does. It’s amazing the connection the two have. He might be one of the fastest horses in the world, but he walks so slowly.
“Equilateral has run brilliantly and I always thought he was going to run a really big race. He has always shown that he is a really good horse. I know a lot of people has lost a lot of money on him over the years. He deserves to win a big one in time, but her hasn’t even won a Group race yet so we’ll try and find a Group Three for him somewhere if we can.
“I would be really proud if he could win the King George Stakes four times at Goodwood. It would be a highlight of the season if he could do that.
“Battaash is just an amazing horse. Everyone in the yard is so lucky to have a horse like him – he is the horse of a lifetime. It is not just that, but also the character he has at home.
“Everyone has done a great job with him at home including Victoria who rides him out every day. I watched the race where no-one could see in the concourse. I just thought thank god for that when he won and that he got the job done.
“Battaash has always been pretty good first time out and it would be fantastic if he could come back next year at the age of seven.
“He will obviously have had a race less this year too, so hopefully he is a fresh horse going into the autumn.”
Jim Crowley commented: “I had to hold him for two furlongs; he was on a bit of a going day and wanting to charge off. My only concern was to try to get the fractions right on him because obviously he was quite keen today. There was nothing quick enough to lead him, and I wanted to save enough for the finish, which worked out.
“Every time he wins, this horse, it feels special, because when he wins, he wins well. Like I said, he was always doing plenty enough with me early on and I was a little bit worried that the stiff uphill finish might find him out, obviously having this first run, but you know, he’s a real superstar and he has done the three now – the Abbaye, the Nunthorpe, this and hopefully we’re not finished yet.
“He was really good going down today. It didn’t make any differene during the race – when those gates opened, he was gone. He is just such a naturally fast horse, it’s hard to find anything quick enough to lead him. That’s what happened that day at York – he got a tow. He’s a superstar and I’m very grateful to be riding him.
“He has got better at time’s gone on. Obviously two years ago at York he completely blew his lid before the race. I think not having the crowd did help today.
“He has won on good to soft and soft ground before, but with the stiff five furlongs here I wouldn’t want it too testing. Although the rain has come, it hasn’t really got in too much and we got away with it there.
“I would say he’s number one in my career. He’s one of the best sprinters in recent years. He’s got so much natural talent. OK, he can throw the odd one in now and again, but when he’s good, he’s very, very good. He’s just a super horse.
“He bounced off the ground today. This track drains very well and it was perfect for him today.
“Obviously it was his first run and he was fresh. When he hit the gates I was just merely a passenger and just trying to get him to go as steady as I could basically to save something for the finish.
“He was very fit today, and Charlie has done a great job to get him ready first time up, it was nice to make it third time lucky.
“He has shown no signs of slowing down that’s for sure! It was nice to come here and win and he seems to be getting quicker. He has just got so much speed it is just hard to find horses to lead him, you would love to have a toe to the furlong, it is just not happening!”
James Doyle said of the runner-up Equilateral: “Good run, very pleased with him. It worked out nicely; we got a nice tow from Battaash and Clive Cox’s horse, and he’s run a great race.”
King's Stand Stakes (Group 1)
Winner: £148,000, 3yo plus, 5f, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good to Soft
1 (10) Battaash 6 9-4 Charles Hills Jim Crowley 5/6F
2 (5) 2¼ Equilateral 5 9-4 Charles Hills James Doyle 9/1
3 (9) shd Liberty Beach 3 8-9 John Quinn Jason Hart 4/1
4 (11) 1 Tis Marvellous 6 9-4 Clive Cox Adam Kirby 33/1
5 (4) 2½ Glass Slippers 4 9-1 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 13/2
6 (1) 1½ Shades Of Blue 4 9-1 Clive Cox Liam Keniry 50/1
7 (7) 1 Kurious 4 9-1 Henry Candy Harry Bentley 33/1
8 (8) 1¼ Rocket Action 4 9-4 Robert Cowell Tom Queally 125/1
9 (6) ¾ Well Done Fox 4 9-4 Richard Hannon Silvestre De Sousa 40/1
10 (2) ½ Hit The Bid 6 9-4 D J Bunyan Oisin Murphy 40/1
11 (3) ½ Sergei Prokofiev 4 9-4 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore 28/1
THE KING'S STAND STAKES
Past Results
2019-WINNER-BLUE POINT
2018-WINNER-BLUE POINT
2017-WINNER-LADY AURELIA 3-8-09 Owner-Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton, Peter Leidel; Trainer-Wesley Ward USA; Jockey- John Velazquez; SP-7/2
2ND-Profitable 5-9-04 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Clive Cox; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-14/1
3RD-Marsha 4-9-01 Owner-Elite Racing Club; Trainer-Sir Mark Prescott; Jockey-Luke Morris; 11/4F
17 ran; Time-57.45s; Dist-3, hd
2016-WINNER-PROFITABLE 4-9-04 Owner-Alan Spence; Trainer-Clive Cox; Jockey-Adam Kirby; SP-4/1
2ND-Cotai Glory 4-9-04 Owner-Kangyu Int Racing (HK) Ltd & F Ma; Trainer-Charlie Hills; Jockey-George Baker-SP-33/1
3RD-Goken 4-9-04 Owner-Guy Pariente; Trainer-Kevin Ryan; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-50/1
17 ran; Time-1m 2.69s; Dist-nk, 1 6/4 Fav Mecca’s Angel (16th)
2015-WINNER-GOLDREAM 6-9-04 Owner-J Sargeant & Mrs J Morley; Trainer-Robert Cowell; Jockey-Martin Harley; SP-20/1
2ND-Medicean Man 9-9-04 Owner-Stuart & Kate Dobb; Trainer-Jeremy Gask; Jockey-Joao Moreira; SP-50/1
3RD-Muthmir 5-9-04 Owner-Hamdan Al Maktoum; Trainer-William Haggas; Jockey-Paul Hanagan; SP-3/1
18 ran; Time-59.11s; Dist-sh, nk 5/2 Fav Sole Power (5th)
2014-WINNER- SOLE POWER 7-9-04 Owner-Sabena Power; Trainer-Edward Lynam IRE; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-5/1
2ND-Stepper Point 5-9-04 Owner-Clive Edginton; Trainer-William Muir; Jockey-Martin Dwyer; SP-50/1
3RD-Hot Streak 3-8-12 Owner-Qatar Racing Limited; Trainer-Kevin Ryan; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-3/1 Fav
16 ran; Time-58.85s; Dist-11⁄4, nk
2013-WINNER- SOLE POWER 6-9-04 Owner-Sabena Power; Trainer-Edward Lynam IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh: SP-8/1
2ND-Shea Shea 6-9-04 Owner-Bryan Joffe & Myron Berzack; Trainer-Mike De Kock SAF; Jockey-Christophe Soumillon; SP-11/4 Fav
3RD-Pearl Secret 4-9-04 Owner-Qatar Racing Limited; Trainer-David Barron; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-10/1
19 ran; Time-58.88s; Dist-nk, 1¼
2012-WINNER- LITTLE BRIDGE 6-9-04 Owner-Ko Kam Piu; Trainer-Danny Shum HK; Jockey-Zac Purton; SP-12/1
2RD-Bated Breath 5-9-04 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Roger Charlton; Jockey-James Doyle; SP-11/2
3RD-Sole Power 5-9-04 Owner-Sabena Power; Trainer-Eddie Lynam IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-8/1
22 ran; Time: 59.29s; Dist ¾, 1 9/2 Jt Favs Ortensia (9th), Wizz Kid (10th)
2011-WINNER- PROHIBIT 6-9-04 Owner-Dasmal, Rix, Barr, Morley, Mrs Penny; Trainer-Robert Cowell; Jockey-Jim Crowley;
SP-7/1
2RD-Star Witness 4-9-04 Owner-Widden Stud; Trainer-Danny O’Brien AUS; Jockey-Steven Arnold; SP-6/1
3RD-Sweet Sanette 6-9-01 Owner-Chow Hong & Wu Po Kung; Trainer-Tony Millard HK; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-16/1
19 ran; Time: 59.50s; Dist ½, ½ 11/2 Fav Kingsgate Native (6th)
2010-WINNER-EQUIANO 5-9-04 Owner-James Acheson; Trainer-Barry Hills; Jockey-Michael Hills; SP-9/2
2ND-Markab 7-9-04 Owner-Tight Lines Partnership; Trainer-Henry Candy; Jockey-Pat Cosgrave; SP-14/1
3RD-Borderlescott 8-9-04 Owner-James Edgar & William Donaldson; Trainer-Robin Bastiman; Jockey-Neil Callan; SP-16/1
12 ran; Time: 59.00s; Dist: 1½, nk 5/2 Fav Kingsgate Native (6th)
2009-WINNER-SCENIC BLAST 5-9-04 Owner-Elio Anthony Galante & Partners; Trainer-Danny Morton AUS; Jockey-Steven
Arnold; SP 11/4 Fav
2ND-Fleeting Spirit 4-9-01 Owner-The Searchers; Trainer Jeremy Noseda; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-7/2
3RD-Anglezarke 3-8-09 Owner-David Armstrong; Trainer-David Easterby; Jockey-David Allen; SP-33/1
15 ran; Time: 59.54; Dist: ¾, 2¾
2008-WINNER-EQUIANO 3-8-12 Owner-James Acheson; Trainer-Mauricio Delcher Sanchez ESP; Jockey-Olivier Peslier;
SP 22/1
2ND-Takeover Target 9-9-04 Owner-Joe & Ben Janiak; Trainer-Joe Janiak AUS; Jockey-Jay Ford; SP-6/1
3RD-Fleeting Spirit 3-8-09 Owner-The Searchers; Trainer-Jeremy Noseda; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-15/8 Fav
13 ran, Time-59.35s, Dist: ½, nk
2007-WINNER-MISS ANDRETTI 6-9-01 Owner-Sean Buckley, Dave Mueller, Gabriella Guenzi; Trainer-Lee Freedman AUS;
Jockey-Craig Newitt; SP-3/1 Fav
2ND-Dandy Man 4-9-04 Owner-H R H Princess Haya Of Jordan; Trainer-Tracey Collins IRE; Jockey-Pat Shanahan; SP-15/2
3RD-Magnus 5-9-04 Owner-Robert Crabtree; Trainer-Peter Moody AUS; Jockey-Damien Oliver; SP-14/1
20 ran, Time-57.44s, Dist: 1¾, nk
2006-WINNER-TAKEOVER TARGET 7-9-07 Owner-Joe & Ben Janiak; Trainer-Joe Janiak AUS; Jockey-Jay Ford; SP-7/1
2ND-Benbaun 5-9-02 Owner-Ransley, Birks, Hillen; Trainer-Mark Wallace; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-16/1
3RD-Pivotal Point 6-9-02 Owner-R A Bernard; Trainer-Peter Makin; Jockey-Frankie Dettori; SP-25/1
28 ran, Time-59.79s, Dist: sh, ½ 5/1 Fav Moss Vale (8th)
2005-WINNER-CHINEUR 4-9-02 Owner-Marquesa De Moratalla; Trainer-Mikel Delzangles FR; Jockey-Christophe Lemaire;
SP-7/1
2ND-Boogie Street 4-9-02 Owner-Hippodrome Racing; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-16/1
3RD-Moss Vale 4-9-02 Owner-John C Grant & Cheveley Park Stud; Trainer-Barry Hills; Jockey-Michael Hills; SP-14/1
16 ran, Time-57-55s, Dist: 1¾, nk 11/2 Jt-Favs Var (6th) and The Tatling (7th) (run at York)
2004-WINNER-THE TATLING 7-9-02 Owner-Dab Hand Racing; Trainer-Milton Bradley; Jockey-Darryll Holland; SP-8/1
2ND-Cape Of Good Hope 6-9-02 Owner-Exors of the late R Carstairs; Trainer-David Oughton HK; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-13/2
3RD-Frizzante 5-8-13 Owner-Jan Hopper & Elizabeth Grundy; Trainer-James Fanshawe; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-9/2
Fav
19 ran, Time-1m 0.16s, Dist: 1½, nk
2003-WINNER-CHOISIR 4-9-07 Owner-Terry Wallace & Partners; Trainer-Paul Perry AUS; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-25/1
2ND-Acclamation 4-9-02 Owner-Dulford Cavaliers; Trainer-Gerald Cottrell; Jockey-Pat Eddery; SP-16/1
3RD-Oasis Dream 3-9-01 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-6/1 Fav
20 ran, Time-59.68s, Dist: 1, 1½
