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| Staff Writer |
Last year’s winner Battaash leads the way in Tuesday’s first Group One feature of the day. He could be intensely under pressure to deliver against his biggest challenger, Winter Power, after her stunning york performance, and could be primed for a big run on her reappearance.
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The Charlie Hills-trained 136-rated Battaash is the star name among 16 sprinters contesting the for the 2021 renewal of the King’s Stand Stakes.
“He’s come back very well,” said Hills reported News Wire Ireland. “He was a little more wintry than last year, but the last couple weeks, his coat has really been coming through. He’s physically done well and I’m happy with him. He’s had one swinging canter and we’re just trying to keep him ticking over. He’s not a big horse, so he doesn’t take as much training and is a good, clean-winded type.”
The 7YO will be making a belated seasonal debut after suffering an injury during the winter, but he has been successful first time out in all five previous campaigns.
The Charlie Hills-trained speedster took the prize in grand style 12 months ago after finishing runner-up in 2018 and 2019 before going on to win his fourth King George Stakes at Goodwood and his second Nunthorpe at York.
An early-season setback has kept Battaash off the track so far this year, but he is closing in on a comeback.
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His rivals include Roger Teal’s July Cup hero Oxted who drops down to the minimum trip for the first time in a bid to land a second Group One while Tim Easterby’s exciting 3YO filly Winter Power, who thrived on her racing at 2, winning Gr.3 Cornwallis at Newmarket final start. She showcased an amazing dominant front-running display in York listed on reappearance.
Que Amoro gave Bataash a scare in the Nunthorpe last summer and could be primed for a big run on her reappearance.
John Quinn saddles both Liberty Beach and Keep Busy, while international interest is added by two American challengers in Extravagant Kid and Maven – who are trained by Brendan Walsh and Wesley Ward respectively. Smart American son of Kiss The Kid posted a career-best to win Meydan Gr.1 Al Quoz Sprint in March. He will need to up his game again in this August company.
King's Stand Stakes Winner 2020: Battaash
Distance - 5f (1, 006 metres), Surface - Turf, Track - Straight, Qualification - 3YO+, Weight 8 st 12 lb (3YO), 9 st 5 lb (4YO+), Allowances, 3 lb for fillies and mares, Purse £350, 000 (2021), 1st: £198, 485,
Runners List: Arecibo, R. Cowell, J. Spencer, Battaash, C. Hills, J. Crowley, Extravagant Kid, B. Walsh, F. Dettori, Harry's Bar, A. McGuinness, R. Whelan, King's Lynn, A. Balding, O. Murphy, Maven, W. Ward, J. Velazquez, Ornate, D. Griffiths, A. Kirby, Oxted, R. Teal, C. Fallon, Stone Of Destiny, A. Balding, W. Buick, Glamorous Anna, C. Mason, W. Cox, Keep Busy, J. Quinn, R. Moore, Liberty Beach, J. Quinn, J. Hart, Que Amoro, M. Dods, P. Mulrennan, Acklam Express, N. Tinkler, T. Marquand, Ubettabelieveit, N. Tinkler, R. Scott, Winter Power, T. Easterby, S. Sousa
Gr.1 King's Stand Stakes 2021 Winner 2020: BATTASH
Gr.1 King's Stand Stakes 2021 Video 2020: Gr.1 King's Stand Stakes 2021 Video 2020