CHRIS GOULDING

switched across and it worked out fine.”

The four-year-old has now staked his claim as the best sprinter in the world. On official ratings he is currently playing second fiddle to Harry Angel but by the end of 2018 he is expected to come out on top.

Winning trainer Charlie Hills rated it Battaash’s best ever performance in a race which was run just 0.49 seconds outside the Goodwood five-furlong course record.

“I think that’s a career-best,” said Hills. “It was also the best he has behaved in the preliminaries.

“He had to carry a penalty (gave 3lb and more to his rivals) but won so impressively.” Regarding future targets, Hills revealed: “He will probably have three more runs this year, the Nunthorpe at York, the Flying Five at the Curragh and then back to France and try to repeat last year’s success in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

“America and the Breeders’ Cup is potentially something we might think about – travelling won’t be an issue.”

David Griffiths, the trainer of the evergreen Take Cover, has to be applauded for keeping his 11-year-old at the top of his game.

“He just loves it here, his stats here are amazing,” said the proud Griffiths.

“He’s in the Nunthorpe and in the Flying Five at the Curragh, so hopefully he’s back to his best and we can keep going.

“You would think this would be his last season at his age, but we’ll discuss that at the end of the year.”