Four weeks after warning that Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) may miss the chance to defend his title in the G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, trainer Charlie Hills issued an upbeat bulletin on the 7-year-old gelding on Thursday, saying “at the moment there's no reason why he wouldn't make it [to Ascot].”
Battaash won all three starts last year, taking a fourth consecutive G2 King George S. and a second G1 Nunthorpe S. in addition to the King's Stand, but the Shadwell colourbearer picked up a minor fracture while wintering at his owner's farm and was delayed in returning to Hills's yard. Hills said on Thursday, “He's been back with us a week now and straight away he's settled back into his routine of what he has done for the last few years. I'm really pleased with him.
“He's not backward in his coat, which is nice as it has been pretty cold weather. I'm really pleased with where we are with him actually. His weight is pretty good and he's showing all the same levels of enthusiasm that he always has done, so I'm happy.”
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