ASCOT 15:40 s3c17

All 14 ran.

Time: 58.14s Closing Sectional: (2f): 23.05s (100.9%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 121%, Betfair SP 99.2%

A supposed sprinting showdown between 2 of the fastest horses of recent times, and pretty much a clear-cut case of Battaash winning that battle but losing the war, let rip from the start, going a fierce pace that broke Lady Aurelia and most of the rest by over 1f out, ultimately leaving him vulnerable to the one who stayed afloat in the jetwash, Blue Point clawing him back in the last ½f, but the fact that almost everything else in a Group 1 ran below their rating was all down to Battaash.

BLUE POINT (IRE) reprised the role of Marsha from the last Lady Aurelia vs Battaash show in the 2017 Nunthorpe, undoubtedly an element of him being in the right place at the right time, but there's more to be said of his class and speed that kept him in the hunt while Battaash was busy blitzing virtually everything else, Blue Point surviving the onslaught - never much more than 3l off the trailblazer - and wearing him down in the last ½f; a performance of this calibre from him hardly came out of the blue, given his general trajectory bar Hong Kong in April when doing his running at the wrong time in stark contrast to here, but at the same time his rating from this is a little easier explained than reproduced, as few sprints develop quite like this, the perfect storm for him, on a track where he's now 3 from 4.

BATTAASH (IRE) goes alongside the likes of Orfevre, Zenyatta and Hawk Wing from recent times as runner-ups that are more memorable than the winners in a Group 1, as this really was Battaash's race to all intents and purposes, putting on a show with his rare speed, the clear gameplan to simply outrun Lady Aurelia getting its rewards with what he did to her, but the risks attached were the reason for him succumbing to Blue Point in the finish, excusably running out of steam after giving so much, though still in front ½f out; what he did for nine-tenths of the race rubber stamps that he's still a mid-130s sprinter, and a little more control should see him reverse placings with Blue Point if they meet again in the Nunthorpe, Battaash not in the right frame of mind for that race last year, but his pre-race demeanour on both of his 2018 appearances suggest he's growing up and calming down, at least to some degree, with measures taken.

MABS CROSS has been on a roll pretty much all her racing life, let alone this season, though this probably isn't quite the graduation it seems, regards her relationship on paper with the first 2, closing in late from further back than the winner, obviously flattered to almost nick second at the line from the gung-ho Battaash, who was flagging by then; a Group 1 placing makes her a very valuable broodmare prospect, deserving all her praise for how far she's come since winning a handicap off 74 in this week last year.

FINSBURY SQUARE (IRE) came out best in the bunch for fourth, some way removed from the first 3, but he might have been a length nearer them had he got moving sooner from mid-field, standing out from the others off the pace in that he coped comfortably with the very high threshold from the look of things, that almost confirmition in itself that he's better than ever aged 6, following on from his Prix du Gros-Chene win on his debut for the yard.

BUCCHERO (USA) held his own, if without ever being in the white heat of the race, always around the same place, about as good as could have been expected based on his American form, not in the Group 1 bracket over there, albeit fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

DIFFERENT LEAGUE (FR) back at the scene of her Albany win but looked no more like that filly, doing little better than previously this season despite what her finishing position in a Group 1 might say, never nearer, only picking up some pieces off the searching pace.

LADY AURELIA (USA) has found her star dimming ever since this race last year, having done to her what Battaash had done to him in the Nunthorpe on her next start but looking diluted at the end of last season and start of this one, reduced by an on-song Battaash here, no living with him from 2f out; her brilliant best was part of Royal Ascot folklore, but those days seem gone now.

WASHINGTON DC (IRE) can play in high leagues on his good days, as the Temple proved, but this race basically ed him by, dropped out to begin with.

KACHY measured up fairly well to a reappearing Battaash in the Temple, but the full-power version proved far too hot for Kachy to handle, the effort of trying to go with him (raced prominently) taking its toll from 2f out.

GIFTED MASTER (IRE) hadn't raced over 5f since early in his 2-y-o days and was basically taken off his feet from the start, the rider sympathetic to it.

BATTLE OF JERICHO (USA) isn't qualified for this company, anyway, asked an awful lot as a 3-y-o, but from his draw/position he was unconnected to the main action.

ORNATE paid the price for chasing Battaash and co, not normally in their orbit, left behind 2f out.

PRIMO UOMO (IRE) had no business in a Group 1 sprint, at least not getting in the way, always behind.

DECLARATIONOFPEACE (USA) last again, clearly having big problems this year, regardless that he's out of his pay grade in a Group 1.