Battaash v Lady Aurelia

Following his breath-taking four length victory in the 2017 running of the Prix de L’Abbaye, it is difficult to envisage that any horse can beat Battaash over 5 furlongs when in that sort of form. It was a stunning performance where he made Group 1 sprinters look ordinary. A field that included the Nunthorpe Stakes winner Marsha in behind. So can he confirm himself as the top sprinter around or will it be another Royal Ascot success for the American speedster Lady Aurelia when the pair clash next month? Here we look at each horses credentials heading in to one of the most anticipated clashes of the season. You can see the latest betting on Royal Ascot now in which Star Sports currently make Battaash 11/4 favourite ahead of 3/1 Lady Aurelia to win the King Stand Stakes on 19th June.

Charles Hills, Battaash's trainerBattaash is entering the current campaign following a career best performance in the previously mentioned Prix de L’Abbaye. Sired by Dark Angel and trained by a master of Sprinters in Charlie Hills he certainly fits the bill. He won on debut but having caused problems at the start when finishing in mid-field in the 2016 Windsor castle Stakes at Royal Ascot was subsequently gelded. Battaash returned to action in September of that season but again struggled, finishing third on each of his next three starts. He was then given a long 253 day break before returning in the Scurry Stakes at Sandown in the middle of June last year. He was sent off an unfancied 11/1 but gave the first key indication of his ability in kicking clear to win easily by 1 ¼ lengths in the Listed event.

Battaash then followed up in a Group 3 at Sandown showing incredible speed to make virtually all and win very impressively by over 3 lengths. He then contested the King George Stakes at Goodwood which was also his first attempt at a Group 2 race. Sent off at 9/2 he again quickened up well before before running on strongly to win by over 2 lengths and in the process firmly stamping himself as a top class group 1 sprinter.

Battaash’s next start was against Lady Aurelia in the Nunthorpe but he ran below his form in a distant and disappointing fourth. However he bounced back from that defeat in style in the Prix de L’Abbaye performance. He turned the form around with his Nunthorpe conqueror Marsha by a staggering four lengths in what was the top performance of the year. Timeform make the horse the joint highest rated older horse in Europe with the John Gosden trained Cracksmen both with a mark of 136.

2017 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes MARSHA and Luke Morris far side beats LADY AURELIA by a nose for trainer Sir Mark PrescottSired by the great Scat Daddy, 4 year old Lady Aurelia will again be spear-heading the formidable Royal Ascot bound team of US trainer Wesley Ward. Ward primes his sprinters for the Royal meeting and there is no doubt that Lady Aurelia also runs her best race of the campaign at Royal Ascot. She first came over to contest the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot back in 2016 with a tall reputation having won her debut by 7 and a half lengths in a 4 ½ furlong maiden at Keeneland. She produced an electrifying performance, bursting from the stalls and making all the running she had the field beaten by halfway. This brought back memories of Frankel’s monumental performance in the Guineas and in the process marked her out as something special.

Following a few less impressive victories and turn overs she again headed to Royal Ascot in 2017 but this time with a little less expectation. She was sent off at 7/2 in the King’s Stand against some of the top European sprinters around such as the Clive Cox trained Profitable. She again showed her trademark turn of foot and quickened clear to win very impressively. This was another performance that left you speechless.

Lady Aurelia was somehow pipped in her next start in the Nunthorpe having looked the victor with her jockey Frankie Dettori even celebrating following crossing the line. Despite that narrow defeat by Marsha if she brings her A game to Ascot like she has on both previous appearances at the track it will take a monumental performance from Battaash to stop her from becoming a three time Royal Ascot winner.