BRILLIANT Battaash blew his rivals out of the water with a dominant display in the King’s Stand.
Charlie Hills’ speedball had finished second in the previous two runnings of this race but he made it third time lucky as the 5-6 favourite.
He was out of the traps like a greyhound and jockey Jim Crowley had his feet firmly on the brake pedals for the first couple of furlongs.
But as he approached half-way, he hit the gas and Battaash immediately opened up on the rest of the field.
Equilateral collared Liberty Beach close home to give Hills a 1-2 in the big-race, but the winner was in a league of his own.
Hills said: “I’m so proud that he has done that today. He has been second in it twice, and Jim.
“As soon as the gates opened today you could see he was on his A-game.
“That performance has to be up there, it is obviously a very strange environment, but a Royal Ascot winner is always special.
“You get very close to them, he has been in the family for a long time and it does make you well up a bit when they run like that.”
It was a thrilling ride for the man on top, and Crowley reckons Battaash is one of the best sprinters we’ve seen in recent times.
He said:”I had to hold him for 2f. He was on a bit of a going day and he wanted to go charging off.
“The challenge was trying to save a bit up my sleeve for the finish, but there was nothing quick enough to lead him.
“Every time he wins he feels very special. I was a little bit worried about the stiff finish finding him out given how fresh he was early.
“Hes won the Nunthorpe, the Abbaye and now the King’s Stand, and hopefully we aren’t finished yet.
“He is one of the best sprinters in recent years, he has got so much natural talent.”
