Former Yorkshire jockey Crowley’s 118-1 treble highlight of Royal Ascot’s first day
JIM CROWLEY – once a journeyman jump jockey with Yorkshire racing legends Sue and Harvey Smith – was the day one hero of Royal Ascot after landing a 118-1 treble.
The undoubted highlight was the unstoppable Battaash, who blew away his sprint rivals to land the Group One King’s Stand Stakes in spectacular style.
Trained by Charlie Hills, the absence of crowds meant Battaash, temperamentally fractious in the past, was able to keep his cool in the preliminaries and then prevail for the first time at the Royal meeting.
He finished clear of stablemate Equilateral, who just collared the John Quinn-trained and Jason Hart-ridden Liberty Beach in the race for second with Kevin Ryan’s Glass Slippers back in fifth.
“My only concern was trying to get the fractions right on him as there was nothing quick enough to lead him. When the gates opened today, he was gone,” said Crowley who was once a firstfence faller in the Grand National before switching codes.
“He has got better as time has gone on. Obviously two years ago at York he completely blew his lid before the race. I think not having the crowd did help today.
“Every time he wins it feels special, as when he wins he wins well. I was a bit worried the stiff uphill finish might find him out on his first run, but he’s just a real superstar.
“He’s won the big three now – the King’s Stand, the Abbaye and the Nunthorpe. Hopefully he’s not finished yet – I’m very grateful to be riding him.”
Battaash will now attempt to win Goodwood’s King George Stakes for a fourth successive year before attempting to defend the Nunthorpe Stakes at York’s Ebor festival.
Crowley’s landmark day began with Motakhayyel’s win in the Buckingham Palace Stakes before Nazeef landed the Duke of Cambridge Stakes, denying North Yorkshire trainer David O’Meara’s Agincourt in another thriller.
All three victories for the former champion jockey were in the familiar blue and white silks of owner Hamdan Al Maktoum.