Cover Image courtesy of TDNEurope

Brilliant Battaash breaks record

Eclipsing even Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), Shadwell’s Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) destroyed his opponents on Friday in the greatest performance witnessed in the history of York’s G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S.

Capping a display for the ages, the 5-year-old who had been here and failed in 2017 and 2018 was stopped at 55.90, becoming the first ever to dip under 56 seconds and in the process ending the 29-year dominion of the operation’s sprinting legend Dayjur (USA).

Shadwell's Angus Gold, who was there in 1990, said, “It was fantastic. I’m thrilled for Sheikh Hamdan, who puts a lot into it and it’s great he was here to see this. I would never have dared mention him in the same breath as Dayjur, but I suppose I’ll have to after today!"

"You never quite know with him, but I simply couldn’t understand why a horse wouldn’t like York as it’s not a quirky track."

"He was very calm off the box and very good in the preliminaries today and he accepted a lead in the race whereas at Goodwood he was unbelievably fast in the first part of the race. He did it the right way round today and Jim kicked at exactly the right moment. It’s nice to see him still going at the end–he was still galloping on at the line.”

Battaash was purchased as a yearling for 200,000gns at Tattersalls Book 2 in 2015. His dam, Anna Law (Ire), also has Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ unraced 2-year-old filly Valletta Gold (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) in training with John Quinn and a yearling full-sister to Battaash.

Second million for Stradivarius

Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) won a second £1million Weatherbys Hamilton bonus in the sponsors’ G2 Lonsdale Cup at York on Friday. The talented stayer faced just three rivals in this year's renewal.

"Frankie came closer to the grandstand so the horse could wave, but when he hits the front and Frankie eases up on him he is very quick to drop the lot," said winning trainer John Gosden. "The great stayers have one thing in common–they can cruise and cruise and then pounce and he has that acceleration. He’ll be a tired horse, but by Sunday morning he’ll be rearing on his hind legs which is his party trick.”

Unbeaten in nine starts since finishing third as a raw 3-year-old in the G2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, Stradivarius makes up a remarkable millionaire’s row at Gosden's stables.

Gimcrack glory for Threat

Cheveley Park Stud’s heavily-backed Threat (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}) enjoyed the perfect trip, stalking the early leaders under cover before putting on the squeeze 1 1/2 furlongs out. Chased by the game Lord of the Lodge (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) from there, the chestnut was too strong and had 1 1/4 lengths to spare at the line.

“The preliminaries went to plan and everything went smoothly,” jockey Oisin Murphy said. “He’s a high-class horse who is learning how to relax and as long as I had a nice position and things went smoothly he was always going to win. I’d imagine he’ll get a mile, no problem, and the fact that he’s won a Group 2 over six furlongs is really exciting. I think he’ll go on to better things.”

Trainer Richard Hannon added. “I’ve never seen a bad horse win the Gimcrack, or even a good horse, they have to be very good. He’s danced every dance, pretty much, and has been second to some very good horses. I’m not making excuses for him."

"We’ll work back from something like the Guineas. I’ve not hidden how good I think he is. He could go for the [Sept. 28 G1] Middle Park [at Newmarket], but it might not be a bad idea to step him up to seven furlongs. He’s in races like the [Sept. 14 G2] Champagne Stakes [at Doncaster] and the [G1] Dewhurst [at Newmarket Oct. 12], so we’ll see.”

Armory looks the real deal

Treading a familiar path to some of Ballydoyle’s top juveniles of the past, Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) followed a smooth win in the July 25 G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown with a more hard-fought one in Friday’s G2 Futurity S. at The Curragh. Anthony Van Dyck (Ire), Churchill (Ire), Gleneagles (Ire) have all won the race over recent years.

Settled third early by Ryan Moore behind the stable’s Toronto (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Iberia (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the 4-6 favourite enjoyed a split between them to gain the lead two out and ultimately prevailed by 3/4 of a length.

This race was stacked with promising colts and they all had their crack, but Armory proved too strong. If he is to add Classic glory next year, it will more than likely be over a mile as he possesses more speed than the average Galileo.

Alpine Star takes debutante

The Niarchos Family’s Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea the Moon {Ger}) confirmed her lofty reputation when prevailing in a thrilling finale to The Curragh’s G2 Debutante S. on Friday.

“She’s all heart and stays really well,” trainer Jessie Harrington told Irish Racing.com. “Shane said they went hard the whole way and she got a little bit lost in the middle of the race, but when she got upsides all she wanted to do was stick her head out."

"She’s tough and needs a mile. She likes that dig in the ground and we’ll see where she goes now."

Alpine Star is a half-sister to the extremely talented Alpha Centauri (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who excelled over six furlongs early at two before fulfilling her promise during the summer of her Classic campaign, winning the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, G1 Coronation S., G1 Falmouth S. and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois over the mile trip.