IT took 29 years, but the five-furlong course record set by Dayjur - which many felt would never be threatened - was broken in blistering style by Battaash in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

And with Dayjur running in the same blue and white Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum silks sported by Jim Crowley as he flew down Knavesmire, it could hardly have been a better day for the record to fall.

For many Dayjur was the best sprinter of the modern era, so to see his previously untouchable course best lowered was unthinkable.

But Willie Carson, who rode Dayjur, had intimated to Battaash's trainer Charlie Hills that if any horse could get near it, then it would be him.

Battaash's own brilliance has never been in doubt as he has shown his blistering pace on many occasions.

However, in his two previous trips to York for this race he had finished fourth twice. First time round he boiled over on the long walk from the stables, while there appeared little excuse 12 months ago.

This time Hills boxed him up from Lambourn on the morning of the race and it clearly suited.

Crowley put the race to bed two furlongs out and then Battaash, the 7-4 second-favourite behind Ten Sovereigns, appeared to quicken again, crossing the line three and three-quarter-lengths clear of Soldier's Call in a time of 55.90 seconds, knocking nearly three-tenths of a second off the old record.

"That put the York hoodoo to bed in style - he loves York now," said Hills.

"To lower Dayjur's record - I never thought that would be beaten, but Willie Carson said if one horse could do it, it was him.

"When you look at York you think it should be ideal for him, but sometimes these sand-based tracks don't suit some horses. Not all horses handle York, but he's experienced now and he's doing everything right.

"Last year we weren't 100 per cent happy, but this year he's been great and he'll go down as one of the fastest horses there's ever been."

By 'only' winning by three-quarters of a length at Goodwood, one or two suggested Hills may have overdone the calming tactics, but it was all part of the plan with a busy end to the season in the pipeline.

"At Goodwood we were conscious we didn't want him to have too hard a race - in the two years before we'd maybe given him too hard a time," said Hills

"I'll speak to Sheikh Hamdan, but I can't see why we wouldn't go for the Flying Five (Curragh), the Abbaye (ParisLongchamp) and maybe the Breeders' Cup, but we're conscious not to overdo him with him being a gelding as we hope to have him for a few more years.

"If there's a year to do all those it is this one, though, and it would be great to go unbeaten the rest of the year. It's five furlongs the Breeders' Cup Sprint Turf this year - he should wing round those turns all right!

"When you see him win like that you think how does he ever get beaten, but they are horses and not machines, especially the sprinters. Over 55 seconds you can't afford anything to go wrong.

"I'll be honest, part of me wanted to skip this and go to Ireland with him, but Sheikh Hamdan said, 'No, I'll be in York, I won't be in Ireland'."

Meanwhile, Molatham backed up a promising effort on debut when grinding out victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes.

The son of Night Of Thunder was no match for Mums Tipple, who bolted up in the valuable sales race on the Knavesmire on Thursday, at Ascot in July but was sent off the 2-1 favourite to land Europe's richest maiden contest.

Placed just behind the leaders, jockey Jim Crowley eased Molotham into contention two furlongs out before digging in deep to repel the challenge of the Celtic Art, who was a neck second.

The pair pulled clear of Dubai Mirage in third, while Port of Paint was a further seven lengths back in fourth.

The win gave Crowley a quickfire double after Battaash's stunning success in the Nunthorpe Stakes earlier on the card.

Winning trainer Roger Varian said: "He's a lovely horse who is all about the future really - he's still a bit of a baby who has got to grow into himself yet.

"He's got a wonderful attitude and that should stand him in good stead going forward."

Molatham has multiple options later on in the season, but the Newmarket-based handler was in no rush to commit his charge to future targets.

"He's got all the entries, but we should digest today and see how he comes out of the race," Varian added.

"I think he'll come forward for the run as he was in a proper race today and it'll only do him good."

Battaash's trainer Charlie Hills also bagged a double, as Pogo (12-1) benefited from the step back up to a mile with a narrow victory in the Nationwide Accident Repair Services Handicap.

Ninth over seven furlongs at Goodwood, the son of Zebedee was positioned in midfield early on before jockey Kieran Shoemark weaved his way through the field on Pogo to steal victory on the line.

Vitralite was a neck back in second with Fanaar a further length away in third.

Dark Vision, the 4-1 favourite, threatened to land a blow in the home straight, but ultimately faded to dead-heat for sixth.

"It's been a great day - this is a tough game at times which makes these days all the more special," Hills said.

"This is a really tough horse and he was arguably unlucky at Goodwood last time, so it's great to see him get his head in front.

"He had a great draw and Kieran always had him in the right place."

Tamreer produced a major upset with a determined success in the Sky Bet Handicap.

Roger Fell's four-year-old had been third in a Listed race on her penultimate start, but failed to fire at Doncaster last time out and was sent off a 33-1 chance for the mile-and-a-half contest.

Positioned just off the pace by jockey Ben Curtis, Tamreer made smooth headway two furlongs out and stayed on stoutly to deny Corelli by a neck.

Favourite Caradoc was a further neck back in third, while Gibbs Hill made eyecatching late progress to finish fourth.

"I didn't think she had a cat in hell's chance, which shows you what I know!" Fell said.

"It's great to have a winner here - I can't believe it. A winner at the Ebor meeting is different class.

"I expected the jockey to come back in and say she wasn't fit, but she's obviously got fitter for putting weight on and she looks a lot stronger."

The North Yorkshire-based handler is keeping options open for the daughter of New Approach and she could be pitched into higher company on her next start.

"She's got black type and the only way it could get better is by winning a Listed race," he added.

"That would give her really good value, so we'll see what we can find."