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Battaash defends Nunthorpe crown as Crowley rides fabulous four-timer

Updated / Friday, 21 Aug 2020 16:37
Battaash had to win ugly on the Knavesmire
Battaash had to win ugly on the Knavesmire

Battaash had to battle to add to his brilliant sprinting CV with a second consecutive win in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Charlie Hills' speedster had to defy rain-softened ground, which put hopes of bettering the course record he set last year off the agenda.

He also faced an unexpectedly stern challenge from outsider Que Amoro, before getting on top under Jim Crowley in the final furlong to land the odds as the 1-2 favourite by a length.

Que Amoro (22-1) filled the runner-up berth, while Moss Gill (22-1) was third. 

Hills said: "He's had to really work hard in very tricky conditions. There was a lot against him, the wind was howling, the pace was on the other side, but I think experience won him it today. It’s not easy, it’s similar ground in which he’s been beaten on, but his experience pulled him through.

"If every horse I trained behaved like this today then it would be a very easy job. He was immaculate, the way he behaved – brilliant down at the start, just the ultimate professional now.

"We’ve been working hard on him the last four years, everybody knows it hasn’t been easy, but this season he’s probably been the best he’s ever been, especially down at the start.

"The second showed amazing speed and with the tailwind it can be hard to reel them in, so I knew it was going to be tough.

"I’m so proud of him today, he was brilliant and I probably think it was the best run of his career as conditions were against him – he had to knuckle down and work really hard."

On plans, he said: "The Abbaye is the obvious route to take, but if the ground is like last year we’d probably avoid it and look elsewhere, but I don’t know where that might be. I’d have to speak to Sheikh Hamdan. At the moment Plan A would be Longchamp."

Crowley said: "He tried very hard. They went a serious gallop, but he was a real man and stuck his head out. In the past he has always won his races at halfway, so fair play to the second horse. He’s an amazing horse."

The winning rider was capping an outstanding day in the saddle, completing a four-timer in the first four races, following the victories of Alfaatik, Enbihaar and Minzaal, all like Battaash running for his retained owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.

Minzaal (5-2F) overcame a tardy start to register a taking success in the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes. 

Mohawk King tried to make all, but Minzaal made smooth progress to take up position on the leader's shoulder with two furlongs to run and really stepped up a gear when asked to go about his business.

Having just his third start, Minzaal drifted across the track a touch in the final furlong, but he had a ready two lengths in hand at the finish over Devilwala, with Mystery Smiles back in third.

Trainer Owen Burrows said: "That was very straightforward. He didn’t jump out very quick, but I don’t think Jim wanted to set him alight in any case, as he has so much speed.

"He just lets him find his rhythm and Jim said he couldn’t believe how well he was going, if anything, he got there too soon, but there was nothing else he could do."

Looking to potential targets, the trainer said: "I think he’s all speed, I don’t think he needs to be going further than six furlongs, so we’ll be looking Middle Park rather than Dewhurst and it will be straight there.

"I don’t see him as a Guineas horse, more Commonwealth Cup, and Jim thinks that, too."

Enbihaar (15-8F) will seek an elusive Group One success after fending off the late challenge of Stratum to claim the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York.

John Gosden's superstar stayer Stradivarius had won the extended two-mile contest for the last two years, but even in the absence of his champion, the Newmarket handler still had the right horse for the race in Enbihaar.

The five-year-old was following up a recent Goodwood success and she slotted into the pack as Withhold set the early gallop before the main players all started to line up in the straight.

The Mark Johnston-trained Nayef Road was in front with two furlongs to run, while Crowley looked to be hard at work on Enbihaar on the stands side and Dashing Willoughby launched his challenge on the far side.

However, Enbihaar kept finding for pressure, edging in front with half a furlong to run and stealing a handy advantage on Willie Mullins’ fast-finishing Stratum, eventually prevailing by three-quarters of a length.

Thady Gosden, assistant trainer to his father, said: "We always thought she’d stay two miles as she has that lovely long stride on her. She’s a big filly with a deep chest so there was everything to suggest she’d get it all day long.

"The Qatar Prix de Royallieu, in which she was third to Anapurna last year on Arc day – that’s the aim. She’d stayed in training this season with the aim of winning a Group One and that will be her best chance, against fillies."

Gosden and Crowley also landed the opener with Alfaatik (15-2), who returned from a lengthy lay-off to claim a cosy victory in the Sky Bet Handicap. 

Gosden's charge was having just his fourth career start, and his first outing since finishing last in a Derby trial at Goodwood last May.

Crowley opted to take the shortest route in the 12-furlong contest, biding his time as favourite Zabeel Champion set out to make all before his stride started to shorten in the straight.

Dark Jedi hit the front with two furlongs to run, but as Crowley got serious, Alfaatik knuckled down to the task, finding plenty in the final half-furlong before eventually triumphing by a comfortable three-quarters of a length. On To Victory stayed on for third.

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