3 minute read
Owner Hamdan Al Maktoum was delighted to see Battaash win.
Sheikh Hamdan said: "Every year, he runs in a different way. The first year he ran very fast from the beginning, the second year was alright but this year he idled a lot.
"The first year he ran at York, a dog came and barked behind him and he got nervous a lot. The second year, they held him like they did at Ascot last time. When they hold him, he gives up. I hope he is going to York this year and he will run better.
"There is no tactic - you should just let him run with the horses. He doesn't need to be put in behind or anything because it is a short distance.
"I am enjoying it, particularly because it is the third time here and Goodwood is a very nice racecourse."
Martyn Meade, trainer of the second-placed Houtzen was delighted with the ex-Australian mare's run in the G2 £312,000 King George Qatar Stakes.
Meade commented: "I am thrilled to bits. She has really lived up to her reputation. The great thing is that when they do it at home then they come to the track and you end up saying what has gone wrong, but she has really showed every bit of ability she has at home on the track today.
"I think she gave Battaash a bit of a fright and I thought that she was going to get up there for one second. I think the big problem in the race was that Houtzen had to switch, that might have cost her the race. We were bumped and Ryan [Moore] has had to pull her round. I think if the race was run again, under a different set of circumstances - it must have cost her a length.
"She is a lovely mare and we have only had her for a short period of time, but she has adapted well. She is one of those horses that have been trained on the track in Australia and I think that maybe being in a different sort of environment has helped her. She has thrived on it. She was in Newmarket for a short time - how she was going to cope with the wide-open spaces of Manton and the different set-up was a question. She has absolutely flourished on it and I couldn't be more pleased.
"I think I will have to persuade the owners Aquis Farm, who are a big Australian stud, to keep her in training rather than put her in foal. They brought her over specifically to win the King's Stand (at Royal Ascot in June), and when that didn't work they decided to give her another go. I have trained horse for them before.
"She is a five-furlong horse - I think she was getting to the end of her tether there. She is very quick. I will have to twist there arm and see how convincing I can be and get the old champagne out and hope for the best."
David Griffiths, trainer of the third home, 33/1 chance Ornate, declared: "I am over the moon. I thought he was very over-priced. Obviously, the winner is exceptional and the second horse has run a blinder, but we were best of the rest. We are chuffed to bits.
"We gave him six weeks off after Beverley and then he needed the run at Ascot. That just tightened him up and he likes fast tracks like Epsom and Goodwood. I think he will improve again on whatever he does this year as he is only six, and I think that is quite young for a sprinter.
"We will he see how is - if he is OK tonight, if he eats up and everything - and make a decision in the morning. He has run a lot better than his handicap mark there, and the Stewards' Cup is a possibility. We are delighted today and will see about tomorrow."
