BATT OUT OF HELL
Hills backs reformed Battaash to beat Lady Aurelia to sprint crown
He USeD to be a teenage delinquent, throwing his weight in the wrong directions, a bull in a china shop smashing everything but records.
But reformed Battaash now has trainer Charlie Hills believing that he might just be the fastest turf sprinter either side of the Atlantic. On Friday at York, we’ll find out. Jim Crowley’s mount goes up against US-trained Lady Aurelia, stunning three-length winner of the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Over 80,000 spectators will flock to the Knavesmire this week for the four-day ebor meeting which includes four Classic winners, £4.4million in prize-money and no race run for less than £70,000.
But no race approaches with greater anticipation than the clash between Battaash and Lady Aurelia in Friday’s Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.
Hills has had his confidence buoyed by Battaash’s easy win from Profitable and Marsha in the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Hills said: ‘I was very impressed with Lady Aurelia at Royal Ascot. I thought she was going to be unbeatable. But now we will find out. I think Battaash is up to it.’
Hills has rated Battaash from day one. But a disastrous shot at last season’s Royal Ascot meeting made him question whether the son of Dark Angel would fulfil his potential.
‘When he won his first race at Bath, he went past them as if they were standing still,’ said Hills. ‘I fancied him for the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot but the occasion got to him. He was very badly behaved in the starting stalls. I was gutted.’
After talks with owner Sheik Hamdan Al Maktoum, the decision was made to geld Battaash. The effect was not immediate. He was beaten in his next three races. But Battaash has now won his three contests this season.
Hills, who trained 2015 Sheik Hamdan-owned 2015 champion sprinter Muhaarar, added: ‘If we had not had him gelded, we might not have the horse we have now. With a winter under his belt, he has also become mentally and physically stronger. I don’t think we have seen the best of him.
‘With every race this year, his temperament has got better. He was a teenage delinquent but he is doing what we want him to do.’
Trainer Wesley Ward says the same about Lady Aurelia, a more potent force since last year’s tearaway tendencies were tamed. She has been at York since arriving back in the Britain.
Out of the wins injured Frankie Dettori missed at Royal Ascot, the Italian has said that it was Lady Aurelia that hurt the most.
Dettori rode his mount in a work-out on Friday and Ward was due to arrive yesterday.
He said: ‘She is a special horse. Ones like her don’t come along that often. Her last piece of work in Kentucky was as good as a horse can work. She is the fastest I’ve trained and I am confident.’
Racing’s equivalent of the 100 metres world title will be over in around 56 seconds.
Blink and you’ll miss it.