Jim Crowley is excited about the chances of his Royal Ascot rides, headlined by Battaash and Mustashry on the opening day of the meeting. Crowley, who started his career as a National Hunt jockey, is relishing the prospect of adding to his five successes at the Royal Meeting and believes Battaash could be the best chance of providing him with a winner.
The Charlie Hills-trained four-year-old heads to the King’s Stand Stakes after winning the Temple Stakes on his reappearance and Crowley is confident he’s in better form for the race, which he finished in second in last year. “I thought it was a fantastic run in the Temple Stakes. I didn’t ride him when he won it last year but I thought this year he was impressive,” Crowley said.
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“He was in good form and looked great before the race – he won how people expect him to win now. “I do think he’s in better form this year going into it and hopefully he will do the business.” The 2016 champion jockey may have already added to his Royal Ascot tally by the time he rides Battaash, with Mustashry a leading contender to land the Queen Anne Stakes.
Sir Michael Stoute’s gelding finished third on his seasonal reappearance but took his form to another level when winning the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last time out. Crowley added: “He surprised me in the manner he won the Lockinge, but he didn’t surprise me in winning.
“He’s a really tough horse and Sir Michael had him trained for the Lockinge. He’d gone with a run under his belt and his race at Newmarket worked out particularly well. “The mile at Ascot should suit him well.”
Hamdan Al Maktoum’s stable jockey faces a difficult decision choosing between Khaadem and Jash in the Commonwealth Cup, which he won on Eqtidaar last year, but Crowley feels Tuesday could be crucial for the week ahead. He said: “Hopefully Tuesday will be a good day and Battaash has got to be the pick of my rides.”
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