Battaash smashes record in King George
Going for a record fourth victory in the G2 King George Qatar S. on Friday, Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) couldn’t have been more impressive when setting his previous course record in the process.
Racing over 1000 metres, the 6-year-old gelding went off as a deserving 2/7 favourite in the race and quickly proved he deserved the backing when going straight to the lead even after a slow start. Four others tried to stay with Battaash in the early stages but he started running away from them in the final 400 metres as regular jockey Jim Crowley asked him for his best.
Only Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead {USA}) was willing to try and stick with the gelding in the final 200 metres but it was no use in the end. Battaash crossed the line 2.25l ahead with Glass Slippers holding off a resurging Ornate (GB) (Bahamian Bounty {GB}) for second.
It was the second win in two starts this year for Battaash, who was final able to secure his first G1 King’s Stand victory at Royal Ascot in June.
"Battaash is so talented and we are very proud to have a horse like him in the yard, said trainer Charlie Hills. "He is a 6-year-old now and racing is so lucky to have 6-year-olds like Battaash, Enable and Stradivarius still doing their stuff. Just to be involved in a horse like him just means everything really. He has broken his own track record. It is brilliant. Four consecutive Group 2s takes some doing and I am just so proud of him. Battaash is not the biggest horse in the world, but he is well-balanced and a true athlete. He might only have two more runs this year and for a 6-year-old, he is lightly-raced really.”
Battaash was a 200,000 gns (AU$336,000) yearling purchase by racing owner Shadwell Stables in 2015 at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. The gelding is the first foal of the unplaced Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk {USA}) and three other stakes-placed horses along with the dam of Group 2 winning Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}).
Shadwell returned to the family at last year’s Tattersalls October Sale in Book 1 when purchasing Battaash’s full sister for 800,000 gns (AU$1,344,000) and naming her Altaayshah. She is one of four horses of racing age out of Anna Law with the mare having an unplaced 4-year-old as well from two to race. The mare’s third foal, an unnamed 3-year-old filly, was purchased by Phoenix Thoroughbreds for 180,000 gns ($30,240) at the 2018 Tattersalls Sales.
Tilsit wins controversial Bonhams Thoroughbred S.
Tilsit (USA) (First Defence {USA}) had to survive a lengthy inquiry but in the end was declared the winner of the G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred S. and his jockey Ryan Moore handed a five-day suspension.
The Juddmonte-bred was looking for his second victory in his third career start when making his stakes debut after breaking his maiden by 19l in late June. Sticking to 1600 metres and racing in a five-horse field, Moore split the field with his mount in third about 3l behind the leading My Oberon (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).
Moore switched Tilsit to the outside of the field in the final 600 metres and the colt came charging down the straight under a hand ride from his jockey. It wasn’t until he passed eventual third place finisher Khaloosy (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) that the colt lugged in to cut across the leading My Oberon and forced that rival to check as he brushed the rail.
Moore stopped riding to correct his mount in the final 150 metres before setting back to urge him on to a 1.5l victory under mostly a hand ride. My Oberon was able to keep his second place position well in hand with Khaloosy finishing 2.5l behind the runner-up in third.
"That was a huge step forward,” said Lord Grimthorpe, Juddmonte’s Racing Manager. “Tilsit has to mature, as he is still very babyish really. You could see that slightly in the paddock beforehand, but he was much better than he was the previous two times. And in the race he has handled it pretty well, but he did wander a bit, no doubt about that. He has some talent, no question. I think fast ground is the key to him, as well. I think he is still a bit goofy and immature.
"I wasn't at all optimistic we would keep the race. He was the best horse, no doubt about that, but it always worries me. Ryan had his whip in his right hand, so that was good, and he has just dived in. He was always going to win, so from that point of view the rules are spot on, but it is always a nervous moment.”
The third stakes winner from the final US-bred crop of now-Saudi Arabia resident First Defence (USA), Tilsit has won his last two after losing his debut by a head in early June.
Tilsit is the first foal from Multilingual (GB) (Dansili {GB}), a full sister to Group 3 winner Remote (GB) and half-sister to European Horse of the Year Kingman (GB) out of Group 1 winning Zenda (GB) (Zamindar {USA}).
Zenda herself is a half-sister to successful stallion Oasis Dream (GB) from a full sister to G1 Irish Oaks winner Wemyss Bight (GB) (Dancing Brave {USA}).
One Master leads updates for Enticing
Perhaps no horse had a better day at Goodwood on Friday than Enticing (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) whose One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock) and Prompting (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) won two of the eight races on the card.
Owned by breeder Lael Stables, two-time Group 1 winner One Master had backers worried until results were announced in the G3 Saint Clair Oak Tree S. over 1400 metres.
Breaking closest to the rail, One Master ran in midpack as Breathtaking Look (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) set the pace. One Master was forced to stay on the rail under Tom Marquand as her jockey desperately looked for room as they raced into the final 300 metres.
One Master had to search for a hole for nearly 200 more metres but when she did, she was hot on the trail of new leader Valeria Messalina (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). It took until the final stride and a lengthy photo examination for One Master to be declared the winner by the bob of a nose with Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) 1l behind the pair in third.
"That is our 30th winner in July. I get all the glory and my team do all the work,” said trainer William Haggas. "I had a walk round this morning and I thought it was too firm for One Master. However, there is a beautiful strip of ground down to the three-furlong pole from the start and there is still a little bit of give in there and I felt drawn in stall one, she would be able to go round there on the bridle into the straight. I was fearful and I won't be relaxed until I see her tomorrow, but she is a really genuine filly. It is a terrible place Goodwood in terms of getting boxed in, but she will be on the bridle and it won't hurt her.”
Going 1600 metres in a handicap two races later, One Master’s half-brother Prompting had just a bit better luck in his victory.
The younger of the pair, Prompting also raced on the rail but was just a few lengths behind the leading Vale Of Kent (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) while vying for second. Racing with a large shadow roll, Prompting was never worse than third but much like his half-sister struggled for a hole inside the final 400 metres.
His hole came quicker than One Master’s however, and he took command in the final 200 metres. He was the target this time but there wasn’t a One Master in the field to conquer him with Prompting finishing 1.5l in front of Urban Icon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}).
"He handled the track very well. He is a big horse and very well balanced,” said jockey Harry Bentley. “This was a step up in class for him but I was watching his replays this morning and thought he certainly deserved to go up to this sort of class, and perhaps beyond. He has a lot of class, and off that weight he was always going to have a great chance."
The pair are out of Group 3-winning Enticing, who was also owned and bred by Lael Stables and trained by One Master’s trainer William Haggas.
Also the granddam of Group 3 winner Stela Star (Ire) (Epaulette), Enticing’s Group 2-winning dam is a half-sister to the dam of Group 1 winner Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and Group 3 winner Alexander Pope (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) with G1 Turnbull S. winner December Draw (Ire) (Medecis {GB}) also in the family.
Pablo Escobarr gives stakes Haggas/Marquand double
Gelded after spending the winter in Meydan, Pablo Escobarr (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) proved the surgery was just what he needed to land his first group stakes in the G3 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Glorious S. going 2400 metres.
Another winner for the duo of William Haggas and Tom Marquand, the blaze faced Pablo Escobarr was held up in second to last by Marquand right out of the barriers. Racing about 5l behind the leader, Pablo Escobarr had only one horse beat as he galloped just a neck behind Alounak (Fr) (Camelot {GB}).
Not much changed for most of the race as Communique (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) set the pace until the final 800 metres when Spirit Of Appin (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) was sent up to challenge. It wasn’t until the field entered the final 200 metres that the others joined in the race with Pablo Escobarr and last year’s winner Desert Encounter (Ire) (Halling {USA}) made their moves for the lead.
Pablo Escobarr was the first to take the lead and was too strong for the others with Desert Encounter only able to get within 0.75l of the lead and Le Don De Vie (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) a head behind that in third.
"I guess to outsiders, you would think Pablo Escobarr was exposed, but being on board him and being around him, we always felt there was that little bit more to go for. We changed things up a little bit and were a bit more patient on him,” Marquand said. "There were only six runners, so we were not sat last, but I think it has really paid off to fill him up on the way round and get him enjoying it again. For as long as I am going like this, I will be happy, and if that takes me to the championship at the end of it, I would be pretty speechless."
The only stakes winner but one of four winners out of multiple group winner Bewitched (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), the gelding is from the family of G2 Zipping Classic winner Southern France (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and multiple Australian and New Zealand stakes winner Rosina Lad (NZ) (Faltaat {USA}).
Cepheus returns to form in TDN Australia H.
3-year-old Cepheus (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) registered his first victory since last August’s debut with a determined run in the TDN Australia H. to kick off Friday’s racing at Goodwood.
Cutting back to 2200 metres, the 3-year-old colt broke well before settling into third last as Summit Reach (GB) (Dansili {GB}) opened up a few lengths in the lead. Entering the final 1000 metres, the leader was joined by Al Qaqaa (USA) (War Front {USA}) with just 1l between them and the rest of the field.
In the final 600 metres, William Buick piloted Cepheus to the centre of the track and the colt kicked into a new gear to fly into the lead with 250 metres left to run. Making his move just a few metres later hurt Moomba (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who closed to within 0.5l of the winner but wasn’t able to get there in time.
The pair were 2.5l better than Berkshire Savvy (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}), with that gelding rounding out the top three.
"We have always thought the world of Cepheus,” said trainer Brian Meehan. “He won his maiden well last year. We did run him in the 2000 Guineas first time out this year, which was a little ambitious for the horse but a reflection of what we thought of him throughout. William loved him round there. He said the pace was a little untidy, but the horse was there for him when he needed it and I thought he quickened up really well. He loved the ground which I was a little unsure about this morning, but he enjoyed it which is a positive for the rest of the summer.”
One of two winners out of Crimson Cheer (USA) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}), Cepheus’s dam is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Mythical Girl (USA) (Gone West {USA}), who is the granddam of New Zealand Champion Vespa (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}) and Group 3 winner Hazzabeel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Getting even stronger going back another generation, Green Desert (USA) (Danzig {USA}) is star under his third dam with those family members including Western Australian group winner Werd (Hussonet {USA}).
Goodwood Pilot plan cancelled, track closed to spectators
Set to be the first time a meeting was open to fans since the March shutdown, Goodwood announced on Friday morning that Saturday’s Pilot Event was forced to be cancelled.
Informed by the government that it would not go on, Goodwood’s statement said that they believed concern about the national infection rate played the largest part in permission being rescinded.
"The RCA is very disappointed to learn that the pilot event at Goodwood Racecourse scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed,” said David Armstrong, Chief Executive of the Racecourse Association. We understand and respect the issues raised within the Prime Minister's announcement and have always maintained that public health has been paramount to any event, be it racing resuming behind closed doors or with crowds.”
Glorious Goodwood concludes on Saturday with a seven race card led by the Group 2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S.
