Blue Point Holds Off Battaash to Win King's Stand

Blue Point once again held off the challenge of Battaash to claim back-to-back successes in the King's Stand Stakes (G1), as the pair filled the same two placings from last season June 18 at Royal Ascot.

Unlike when attempting to make all 12 months ago, 2-1 favorite Battaash was given a steady ride by Jim Crowley and he traveled better of the two through the race, but the Godolphin runner would not be denied as held off their challenge in the final furlong to register his third top-level success.

Blue Point, who was a 5-2 chance for jockey James Doyle and trainer Charlie Appleby, becomes the first horse to win the sprint in consecutive years since Sole Power in 2013-14. 

Appleby said: "As you all know, now he's one of the old warriors in the yard and it's a great team effort; everyone has done a fantastic job with this horse. I stood there with William (Buick) and asked if he was happy and he said it was grand.

"When he comes under the pump I know he's going to fire. Battaash traveled supremely well and I thought we'd have to dig deep, but I knew our fella wouldn't lie down and he saw it out well.

"He's been very close to us all. In my early years he was one of my best 2-year-olds, so you're always pulling your heartstrings, but it's fantastic and what these days are all about."

The American shipper Imprimis, Breeze Easy's winner of Keeneland's Shakertown Stakes (G2T), finished sixth for trainer Joseph Orseno.

It was the first time Doyle won on Blue Point, with regular rider Buick out of action, and he said: "It gives me immense satisfaction I didn't mess it up because I've ridden him twice before and it didn't work out. William gets on so well with him and we did plenty of homework.

"Charlie said to me a few weeks ago to pop on him because he is tricky and that's why he's a great trainer. He thinks about all these little things. He's beaten Battaash each time they've met so I wasn't really worried about him, but I was worried about the rain. Luckily it's stayed off and didn't affect the ground until now.

"It's a real team effort and it'll be tough for William watching this, but I think it softens the blow that it's one of his best mates riding his horses while he's off." 

Betway shortened Blue Point into a 3-1 favorite for the Darley July Cup Stakes (G1) July 13. He finished seventh in that race last year.

Mabs Cross almost completed an exact 1-2-3 of last season's renewal, but Soldier's Call snatched the final place for jockey Danny Tudhope and trainer Archie Watson.