Battaash can put record straight

RACING: Hills’ hope holds the aces

BATTAASH can rubber-stamp his position as the world’s top sprinter by settling an old score in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot today.

He showed his true colours with a breathtaking victory in the Prix de l’Abbaye at Chantilly in October to make up for the only blot on his record last season.

Battaash has won five of his starts in that period, his only defeat coming in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August when he lost the race by using too much energy in the preliminaries.

Taking that into consideration, Battaash ran well in the circumstances, finishing fourth to Marsha, who he blew away in France two months later.

The Nunthorpe had been billed as a clash between Battaash and American challenger Lady Aurelia, who was only beaten on the nod.

Wesley Ward’s speedster takes on Battaash but the Charlie Hills-trained four-year-old can put her in her place.

ROMANISED can show his Irish 2,000 Guineas triumph was no fluke by taking the St James’s Palace Stakes. SELECTIONS ROYAL ASCOT: 2.30 Suedois, 3.05 The Irish Rover, 3.40 BATTAASH (NAP), 4.20 Romanised, 5.00 Whiskey Sour, 5.35 Laraaib.

THIRSK: 1.40 Bandola, 2.10 Deira Surprise, 2.45 Windforpower, 3.20 Beauty Filly, 3.55 Henley, 4.35 Mutadaffeq, 5.10 Borodin, 5.45 Acrux.

DOUBLE: Suedois and Battaash.