Battling back to winning ways

The tough and consistent Battle Of Hastings won the seventh race of his career and recorded his fifth Stakes victory when romping to success in the G3 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs on the eve of the Breeders’ Cup.

The British-bred four-year-old son of Royal Applause won two Grade Two races, a Grade Three and a Listed event in the US last season, having been transferred stateside after a successful European campaign at two. He was also runner-up in the G1 Hollywood Derby in 2009 and third in the G1 Frank E Kilroe Mile behind Proviso earlier this year.

Bred by Myriad Communications and New England Stud, Battle Of Hastings is out of the Night Shift mare Subya.

Royal Applause has also been represented this year by G3 Knickerbocker Handicap winner Whatsthescript, Listed-winning juvenile Royal Exchange and recent black type earners Prince Siegfried and Forest Crown.