“We've been very fortunate to have had Battaash in this yard. He's become a massive part of our lives over the last six years. The most important thing is to keep in one piece but we're happy with him at this stage.”

Having suffered a minor setback over the winter, he finished 4th in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot, a performance that left Hills delighted.

“Battaash has been good since his run at Ascot, and we've had no hiccoughs at all. I thought he ran a great race at Ascot, but they probably went a stride too fast which meant, on that track, it just found him out.”

“Goodwood, being a speed track, really suits him. He's a straightforward horse to train these days and we know which races to target him for. He's got a good routine and he enjoys his work which is the most important thing. He's still very competitive when you put a horse alongside him and as long as he's got that, then it's pretty uncomplicated with him.”

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum witnessed some great performances from Battaash at Goodwood, but this will be the first King George Qatar Stakes since his passing on what will prove to be an emotional day for connections.

“Battaash was very close to Sheikh Hamdan's heart. Over those five years, he begun to watch him grow. The day he won the Nunthorpe Stakes was a very emotional day. He was a massive supporter of the yard and we had a lot of success and great days together. He is sadly missed but it's great that his daughter Sheikha Hissa will take on the operation and I so hope Battaash can win at Goodwood for her.”

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The six-year-old gelding, owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, was in front after the first two furlongs and never in any serious danger thereafter, coming home two and a quarter lengths to the good of Glass Slippers (Kevin Ryan/Tom Eaves).

Trainer Charlie Hills said: “Battaash is so talented and we are very proud to have a horse like him in the yard.

“He is a six-year-old now and racing is so lucky to have six-year-olds like Battaash, Enable and Stradivarius still doing their stuff.

“He has broken his own track record. It is brilliant. Four consecutive Group Twos takes some doing and I am just so proud of him.

“Battaash is not the biggest horse in the world, but he is well-balanced and a true athlete really.

“He might only have two more runs this year and for a six-year-old, he is lightly-raced really.

“We are looking forward to the Nunthorpe now. We'll get that hurdle done and then look at the Abbaye probably. Who knows what is going to happen, it is a strange year and no-one really knows what the future holds.

“We'll keep going until he tells us he is not what he is today.”

Jim Crowley said: “He was good. He was getting a bit lonely out in front. It is really hard to find horses quick enough to lead him and he was in front a long way. He was just idling and I had to give him a couple of taps to keep his mind on the job. He is so fast.

“He is very consistent now and, if a horse wants to take him on a race, good luck to them. He is so quick, he just kicks them off at halfway.

“He broke his own record in the race. It is a great team effort from everyone, from the team who put him in the stalls to Charlie [Hills, trainer], Bob [Grace] who looks after him, Victoria who rides him at home. It has been a great week so far and hopefully it is not finished yet.”

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