Battaash Set For Another Sprint Test In The UK

Battaash is a 3-year-old sprinter in the UK who looks to have an exciting future after he was successful at Sandown in a Group Three contest for trainer Charles Hills earlier this month. The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt is unbeaten in 2017 and could be set for the some of the biggest races over 1000m in Europe if he can pass his next test.

The son of Dark Angel opened his campaign at Sandown just last month where he was too quick for his rivals in a Listed contest. He was slowly into stride on that occasion under the hands of jockey Dane O’Neill. The pair made up for their poor start, though, and hit the front with 200m to go to score by over a length.

BATTAASH and @oneill141 set a new course record in the @coral charge. A quite explosive performance.@Sandownpark @RacingInsiderAp @cbhills pic.twitter.com/sufZiFsCcZ

— Michael Harris (@mjyharris) July 9, 2017

Battaash was then one of the popular Sandown racing tips on the bookies offers website for the Coral Charge, especially as there was a free bet on offer for the race. He had no problems stepping up in class at the Esher track, where he was a popular winner with punters at odds of +250. In complete contrast to his earlier run at Sandown, he made virtually all this time around: he raced against the rail and stayed on strongly to record an impressive win by 3 lengths.

The bookmakers have installed Battaas as their +300 favorite for the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood next month where, once again, he is being asked to make a step up with higher company, this time in a Group Two race at one of the biggest meetings of the year on the UK flat calendar. If successful there, connections may think about running their horse in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes at York later in the season, where he is currently quoted in the betting at +600. He also has an entry in the Sprint Cup at Haydock in September.

Profitable Looking To Cash In At Goodwood

Profitable is one of a number of older horses who is entered in the King George Stakes and could spoil Battaash’s fantastic run this season. The former King’s Stand Stakes winner has not been in great form since scoring at Royal Ascot last year in the Group One sprint. He has, though, had the benefit of two runs already this season and could be peaking at the right time ahead of Glorious Goodwood.

This time tomorrow, Priceless will be having her pep talk before going head-to-head with Profitable in the King's Stand 🙏🏇🏼 #RoyalAscot2017 pic.twitter.com/i7gSbvVofb

— Angelica (@Angelica_HT) June 19, 2017

Although he has yet to find the winner’s enclosure this season, there have been signs that the 5-year-old still maintains his enthusiasm for racing. He opened his campaign in France in the Group Three Prix de Saint-Georges back in May, where he chased home Signs Of Blessing at Deauville. Clive Cox’s star sprinter then returned to Royal Ascot 12 months after the biggest win of his career to finish runnerup behind the excellent Lady Aurelia, who was too quick for the European sprinters at the meeting in the 2017 King’s Stand Stakes.

Profitable can be backed at +500 to land what would be his sixth victory of his career and put him back on track for some of the leading sprints in 2017. The Godolphin-owned horse could be seen at the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar in November, where a rematch with Lady Aurelia is possible.

This year’s Glorious Goodwood meeting begins on Tuesday, August 1st, with the leading sprint race, the King George Stakes, scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 5th.