Charlie Hills’ Battaash ready to scorch the turf at Haydock in today’s Temple Stakes
PHEW, it’s going to be a scorcher at Haydock today.
There’s lightning forecast for the Armstrong Aggregates Temples Stakes but don’t panic – it’s greased lightning.
Battaash – the fastest horse on the planet - makes his comeback in the Group 2 contest.
Charlie Hills’ speedster was the top-rated five-furlong sprinter in the Longines World Rankings last year after awesome performances at Sandown, Goodwood and in the Prix de L’Abbaye on Arc day at Chantilly.
With owner Hamdan Al Maktoum’s jockey Jim Crowley at the Curragh to ride Elarqam in the Irish 2000 Guineas Dane O’Neill takes his place in the hottest saddle in sprinting.
Trainer Hills said: “There are some very fast horses in the race.
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“It’s not going to be straightforward but it’ll be nice to get Battaash back on the racecourse. We’ve had no hold-ups and I’m happy with his weight and his mindset.
“He’s quite a fresh and forward-going horse so it is important that we give him a run before the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. The Temple looks the ideal race.
“He has had a couple of issues with the stalls in the past. We’ve had Gary and Craig Witheford down the last couple of weeks and Battaash has been as good as gold – he’s not put a foot wrong.
“Dane gets on well with him. He won on him twice last year, both times at Sandown, and he came down to ride Battaash work last Saturday.”
You’ll have to be quick to catch him today. With other rapid speedsters like Kachy and Take Cover in the field the Temple Stakes is sure to be gone in less than a minute.
And the best news for all of us – if not Battaash – is that he no longer has his wedding tackle so is sure to sizzle for years to come.