Sprint king Battaash showed his star quality once again in the feature race of day three at the Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
Despite the unfavourable conditions, the heavy wind and the rain, he put in a performance of a champion in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.
The big favourite held off the challenge from outsider Que Amoro to win by a length; in a time just two seconds off the course record that he set last year.
Battaash, like a fine wine, has got better with age. This season, he’s won the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot, King George at Goodwood and the Nunthorpe at York. Jim Crowley simply reflected after the race, “he’s a horse of a lifetime”.
Rider Crowley had one of the best days of his career, winning the first four races on the card including the Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup with Enbihaar and the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes aboard Minzaal.
The remarkable four-timer came through at combined odds of over 127/1; a day that will stand out in what has already been a golden summer for the veteran rider.
Crowley is closing in on the incredible landmark 2,000 British winners, he’s four Friday winners leaving him bow just two away. The form he’s in, he could do it on the last day of the Yorkshire Ebor Festival.
