Cover Image: Sam Stephenson courtesy of Goodwood
Written by Paul Vettise
Former Australian-trained mare Houtzen (I Am Invincible) gave a bold account of herself to finish runner-up in the G2 King George Qatar S. at Goodwood behind the Charlie Hills-prepared Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
With rider Ryan Moore sporting the Aquis colours, Houtzen was unplaced in the G1 King’s Stand S. in her English debut but was back to her old self this time, hitting the line very strongly.
Battaash has now won the last three editions of the King George and again showed the form that saw him crowned Europe’s champion male sprinter last year for owner Sheikh Hamdan.
“I think he’s gone a little bit the other way now, he was idling in front, and that’s a good thing as he can take his races better now,” Hills told TDN.
“That was nerve-racking and quite emotional, as sprints are funny and anything can happen. It depends on the draw and where the pace is in the race, but luckily he got a lead for the first two furlongs and had control after. The second is a good mare and I suspect we’ll have to take her on again at York.”
“The second is a good mare and I suspect we’ll have to take her on again at York.” – Charlie Hills.
The G1 Nunthorpe S. is the race Hills is keen to tackle again with Battaash after fourth place finishes in the last two runnings of the event.
“There are three or four left before the end of the season and York is a track that you would think is tailor-made for him,” Hills added. “I can’t understand why he hasn’t won there and am scratching my head, but he’s not the first good horse to be beaten there.
“York is such a speed track and maybe the others eyeball him a lot sooner and the race doesn’t suit.”
Battash (Ire) after winning the Group 2 King George Qatar S. | Image Jayson Fong courtesy of Goodwood
Battaash is a son of Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) and was a 200,000 guineas Tattersalls October Yearling Sale buy for Shadwell. He has a sprinting pedigree and his dam is a half-sister to the G2 Champagne S. winner and G1 July Cup placgetter Etlaala (GB) Selkirk {USA}).
Owned by Aquis Farm and partners and formerly with Toby Edmonds, Houtzen’s effort delighted her new conditioner Martyn Meade.
“She got bumped and had to go round, which didn’t help, but she’s a fabulous mare,” he said.
“She got bumped and had to go round, which didn’t help, but she’s a fabulous mare.” – Martyn Meade.
“We thought she was going well at home, but you wonder if it’s a fool’s paradise and she’s not as good as you think. We wondered how she would cope with the wide-open spaces of Manton, but she has flourished and ran an absolute blinder.
“I am hoping to run her again, but the idea was this run and then to put her in foal so I’ll talk to the owners. I’d like to keep going with her for another couple of big races.
“She is a five furlong horse. I think she was getting to the end of her tether there. I will have to twist their arm and see how convincing I can be. I’ll get the old champagne out and hope for the best.”
Blinkers the key
The addition of headgear has brought the best out of Duke Of Hazard (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who won the Listed Henry Cecil S. in blinkers and followed up with victory in the G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S.
“He had a bit of a seedy toe, which we didn’t know was there for a long time and he was getting a bit nervous. It was like having a drawing pin in your foot and it may have made him a little bit careful,” trainer Paul Cole said.
“He’s not ungenuine and we put the blinkers on to put the fire back into him. We were going to try and do a bit of a Too Darn Hot and cover him up and pounce here and the rider is in top form, so I was quite confident.
“He quickened up really well and was full of running at the finish. The plan beforehand was to go to Deauville in two weeks’ time for the G3 Prix Daphnis, but I’ll have a chat with the manager and owner and see.”
Duke Of Hazard (Fr) winning the Group 3 Bonhams S. | Image Sam Stephenson courtesy of Goodwood
Duke Of Hazzard is out of a winning half-sister to the G1 Racing Post Trophy winning sire Palace Episode (USA) (Machiavellian {USA}) and to the dam of the G2 Debutante S. winner Laughing Lashes (USA) (Mr Greeley {USA}).
Brook bubbles over
Billesdon Brook (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) again showed her liking for Goodwood with success in the G3 Oak Tree S., her third win from five appearances on the course.
Last season’s upset G1 1000 Guineas heroine scorched over the 1400 metres to lower the track record to 1m.23.75s under regular rider Sean Levey at the expense of Perfection (GB (Dutch Art {GB}).
"She's just hard and tough, and also extremely talented and she showed them there,” trainer Richard Hannon said. “They went very quick. I said to Sean, you're presumably going to want to ride her handy because she's only going seven [furlongs].
“He couldn't go and luckily he had the sense to leave her alone and she found her feet and if they go quick like that and she's off the bridle, you know they are going too quick.
“All of a sudden she's on the bridle and she has the speed to get in places where she wouldn't normally get. She's just a really sweet filly.”
Billesdon Brook winning the Group 3 Oak Tree S. | Image Sam Stephenson courtesy of Goodwood
Billesdon Brook is a daughter of Coplow (GB) (Maduro {Ger}) and is a half-sister to the Listed winner Billesdon Bess (GB) (Dick Turpin {Ire}). The dam is a half-sister to the Group 3 winning siblings Anna Nerium (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Piping Rock and to Middle Club (Fantastic Light {USA}).
