The Citizen (KZN)

Battaash to return and blitz his King George rivals

- London

– Battaash can repeat his victory of last year in the Qatar King George Stakes on day four at Goodwood.

It was in this 1000m race 12 months ago that Charlie Hills' charge really marked himself out as a horse on the up, and although his progress was subsequent­ly checked next time, his Abbaye win at the end of the year showed he is truly top rank.

This four-year-old has certainly not done anything this term to disprove that opinion, winning the Temple Stakes at Haydock before having to settle for second in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot.

While that run might be disappoint­ing on the face of it, Battaash was prominent throughout and those early exertions possibly just told as Blue Point had more in reserve on the run to the line.

Hills is always slightly fighting against Battaash's rather highlystru­ng temperamen­t, but Goodwood's atmosphere is decidedly less high octane than Ascot and it will be a surprise if he cannot regain the winning thread.

It would be a shock if Mirage Dancer cannot prevail in the Bombay Sapphire Glorious Stakes.

Sir Michael Stoute's runner had to settle for second behind Best Solution at Newmarket on his most recent outing, when the adoption of front-running tactics possibly did not bring out the very best in him.

Neverthele­ss it was a decent effort and having already won over 2400m at this track in May, the Sussex Downs holds no fears for this son of Frankel.

Stoute should also be in the mix with Regal Reality in the Bonhams Thoroughbr­ed Stakes.

This three-year-old won on his only juvenile start last year and deserves a fair bit of credit for his performanc­e on his only start so far this term.

Contesting the Heron Stakes at Sandown, he looked as though he might stay on from the back of the field to take a hand in the finish, but ultimately a lack of race fitness told and he faded into sixth.

The exploits of the winner Without Parole are well known, so to finish just four lengths adrift reads very well indeed.

One-time Classic hope South Seas can finally enjoy a substantia­l pay day in the Unibet Golden Mile Handicap.

Group 1-placed as a juvenile, he only had two outings last year and has seemingly taken a bit of time to really get rolling this term.

However, his recent fourth in a competitiv­e event at Sandown caught the eye, trying to come from last place before suffering a bit of trouble in running and eventually finishing sixth.

He remains on a rating of 105 and could have been well placed here by Andrew Balding.

Betty F could be something of a dark horse in the L'Ormarins Queens Plate Oak Tree Stakes.

Jeremy Noseda felt her good enough to be pitched into Group 1 company and while she ultimately fell short, it does give an indication of the regard in which she is held.

A novice victory at Doncaster might not stack up to much, but it should see this daughter of Frankel with her confidence riding high. – Press Associatio­n

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa