THE title of Champion Sprinter is often decided long before the leaves start to fall from the trees, but it appears to be still up for grabs this season.

Battaash has won two, the Temple Stakes at Haydock and the King George Stakes at Goodwood, but both of those races are Group 2 races. Charlie Hills’ horse was beaten in the King’s Stand Stakes and in the Nunthorpe. He hasn’t won a Group 1 contest since he won the Prix de l’Abbaye at Chantilly 12 months ago.