Battaash set for Nunthorpe after securing Goodwood hat-trick

Battaash heads next for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Battaash delighted his followers with a third successive victory in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.

For the second year in row, the Charlie Hills-trained speedball had found the now-retired Blue Point too strong in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot, but he was a prohibitively-priced 1-4 favourite to claim a ninth career win in a five-furlong Group 2 he dominated in 2017 and 2018.

The five-year-old jumped out of the stalls smartly and after taking an early lead from outsider Ornate, he took over passing the two-furlong marker.

Just when it looked he would go on to record another emphatic success, the high-class Australian mare Houtzen – making her first start for Martyn Meade – came from out of the pack to throw down a challenge, and briefly looked set to make a real race of it.

In the end, however, Battaash was well on top as he passed the post three-quarters of a length to the good, with Ornate boxing on admirably for third.

Battaash will now try and make it third time lucky in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.