Dark Angel's Battaash Storms to Abbaye Triumph

   Strolling through wins in the Listed Scurry S., G3 Coral Charge and G2 King George S., Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) gained revenge on his Aug. 25 G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe S. conqueress Marsha (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) with a stunning performance in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Abbaye at Chantilly. Sharply away to race on the lead from the outset, the 33-10 second favourite was stoked up with all rivals in trouble approaching the final eighth and kept on powerfully in the closing stages to easily account for last year's winner Marsha by four lengths, with Profitable (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) a neck adrift in third. “He ran moderately at York last time because he boiled over before the race and didn't give his true showing,” explained trainer Charlie Hills. “He'd also had four races in six weeks before that, which may have taken something out of him. He was a much fresher horse today and it was a pleasure to see him do it so easily from the front. I've never seen anything with as much speed on the gallops at home and think he is just phenomenal. Hopefully, being a gelding, he'll be around for a while yet, but he's now through for the season. I'm looking forward to having him around and everything is open next year, including the Breeders' Cup.”
   Reigning champion Marsha put up a bold fight to retain her tiara, but was unable to cope with Battaash's turbo-charged effort, and is now set to go under the hammer at Park Paddocks. “Marsha has run consistently well all year and we'll do well to get another one as good as her,” reflected trainer Sir Mark Prescott's assistant William Butler. “The next date in her diary is the [Tattersalls] December Sales and that's likely to be where she's heading.”
   The ultra-consistent Battaash, kin to the hitherto unraced 2-year-old colt Littlelordconford (Ire) (Intikhab) and a filly foal by Gutaifan (Ire), is the first foal bred from Anna Law (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), herself a half-sister to four black-type performers headed by G2 Champagne S. victor Etlaala (GB) (Selkirk). Anna Law is also a half-sister to Bird Key (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}), who in turn produced this year's G2 Duke of York S. hero and G1 Diamond Jubilee runner-up Tasleet (GB) (Showcasing {GB}). Battaash's third dam Noirmant (Ire) (Dominion {GB}) is a half-sister to G1 Prix Royal-Oak victor Braashee (Sadler's Wells), four-time Group 3 winner Adam Smith (GB) (Sadler's Wells) and G3 Nell Gwyn S. victress Ghariba (Ire) (Final Straw {GB}). The latter, in turn, is the dam of Listed Silver Spoon S. heroine Promptly (Ire) (Lead On Time), herself the dam of the G3 Autumn S. scorer and G1 Racing Post Trophy runner-up Fantastic View (Distant View).
Sunday, Chantilly, France
PRIX DE L'ABBAYE DE LONGCHAMP LONGINES-G1, €350,000, CHY, 10-1, 2yo/up, 5fT, 0:57.59, sf.
1–BATTAASH (IRE), 137, g, 3, by Dark Angel (Ire)
1st Dam: Anna Law (Ire), by Lawman (Fr)
2nd Dam: Portelet (GB), by Night Shift
3rd Dam: Noirmant (Ire), by Dominion (GB)
(200,000gns Ylg '15 TAOCT). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum; B-Ballyphilip Stud (IRE); T-Charles Hills; J-Jim Crowley. €199,990. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Eng, 10-5-0-3, €518,420. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Marsha (Ire), 133, f, 4, Acclamation (GB)–Marlinka (GB), by Marju (Ire). O/B-Elite Racing Club (IRE); T-Sir Mark Prescott. 80,010.
3–Profitable (Ire), 137, h, 5, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Dani Ridge (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire). (95,000gns Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Con Harrington (IRE); T-Clive Cox. €40,005.
Margins: 4, NK, 1. Odds: 3.30, 2.30, 7.80.
Also Ran: Duke of Firenze (GB), Queen Kindly (GB), Rimini (Fr), Finsbury Square (Ire), Largent du Bonheur (Fr), Fashion Queen (GB), Alphabet (GB), Son Cesio (Fr), Signs of Blessing (Ire), Der Graue (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.