Charlie Hills only looking upwards following impressive Sandown demolition by Battaash
Battaash is destined for Group One company soon after running out a comprehensive winner of the Group Three Coral Charge at Sandown for Charlie Hills and Dane O'Neill.
BATTAASH dominated from the front when running out an impressive winner of the Coral Charge.
Although the apparent second string of two runners for owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, with retained rider Jim Crowley preferring Muthmir, Battaash was the 5-2 favourite under Dane O'Neill as he aimed to followed up his victory in the Scurry Stakes over the course and distance three weeks ago.
While he was slowly into stride that day, this time he burst out of the stalls and quickly opened up a lead he never looked like relinquishing.
Mirza did his best to bridge the gap inside the last of five furlongs, but Battaash passed the post three and a quarter lengths the good. Goldream was third ahead of Muthmir in fourth.
O'Neill said: "He's got a lot of ability and we've always liked him.
"He's a typical sprinter - he either does things slowly and quietly or at full tilt.
"He's pretty impressive when he settles and accepts it."
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Winning trainer Charlie Hills said: "He's improving. He was a pretty useful two-year-old who just had a few problems.
"He went back to Shadwell, they gelded him and he's now going the right way for us.
"I think the obvious race for him would be the King George at Goodwood. We'll look to that Group Two there."
Battaash could also potentially test the water at Group One level in the Nunthorpe at York next month.
Hills said: "It was quite handy being able to come back here after a couple of weeks ago and he was much better drawn today. We didn't think there was too much pace on and we thought we would just let him run in Dane's hands.
"He has got an entry in the Nunthorpe and we would be taking on a good filly (Lady Aurelia) there that we have got to be wary of.
"We were always trying to get him settled this year as last year he was like a bull in a china shop as he tried to do everything at once. Hopefully he will improve with more racing.
"I don't think we will be looking to stepping him up to six furlongs."