Battaash laid his Royal Ascot hoodoo to rest in style as he made it third time lucky in the King's Stand Stakes.
It was just reward for the Charlie Hills-trained speedster after finishing second to Blue Point in the previous two runnings of the Group One showpiece.
The 5-6 favourite broke smartly and was always travelling smoothly in the hands of Jim Crowley, who was completing a double after his earlier victory on Motakhayyel.
When Crowley pressed the button, Battaash put daylight between himself and his rivals to score as he liked. Equilateral grabbed second place on the line from Liberty Beach to give Hills the first two home.
An incredible performance from the flying machine Battaash in the King's Stand Stakes
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 16, 2020
2nd in 2018 and 2019, he goes one better in the fifth fastest time ever
On ground that is on the slow side of good 🚀#RoyalAscot pic.twitter.com/PlY3PG0sn3
Crowley said: "I had to hold him for two furlongs as he was on a bit of a going day today and wanting to charge off - 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.
"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."
Hills said: "He broke out of the stalls fantastic and Jim didn't have much choice but to go forward. He always looked in command and it is a real shame Sheikh Hamdan was not here to witness it, but it is great to finally win a King's Stand with him.
"You get slightly tense, obviously, but I've lived every emotion with him. We've been beaten in this race twice before, so three times I don't think I could have dealt with that. His ace card is pretty much from the two to the one and he gets horses off the bridle. He gets them all going while he is still cruising.
"He is a very hard horse to pass when he is like that. He is just an amazing horse. Everyone in the yard is so lucky to have a horse like him, he is a horse of a lifetime. Not just that, it's the character he has at home.
"I was watching the race where no one could see me - no cheering, just get the job done.
"It wasn't to me (concern not having a prep race) as he has always been pretty good first time out and if anything it might just have flattened him the last couple of years. Let's see next year if we come straight here or not. It would be fantastic to come here as a seven-year-old."
