David Ord looks at the eight horses aiming to inflict a first career defeat on Baaeed as the superstar heads to Ascot for his final racecourse outing.
Baaeed bows out in front of a home crowd at Ascot on Saturday.
No Arc bid for the brilliant son of Sea The Stars, but he's exactly the star turn QIPCO British Champions Day was designed to attract.
So instead of a mile-and-a-half amid the rain showers in Paris, it’s ten furlongs at Ascot – and the prospect of easy ground. That’s new for 2022 – although not unknown to the colt having handled some cut in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at this meeting last year as well as the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood a couple of months earlier.
Ten furlongs holds no fears either as we saw at York and he has an outstanding temperament. Throw in the encouraging sounds from the Haggas and Shadwell teams and it's fair to guess he won't beat himself at Ascot.
So who could possibly inflict a first defeat on the superstar on his final carer start? Well, nine horses might have a go – including a couple of near neighbours.
ADAYAR
Here’s a threat. He won the Derby and King George last season after all and arrives at Ascot a fresh horse having been restricted to just one start this season.
True, he was 2/7 in a three-runner conditions race at Doncaster but he showed at least a chunk of the previous ability remains when sauntering to a three-and-three-quarter-length success over Masekela. A 126+ adjusted Timeform performance rating was just two pounds shy of the one he recorded when fourth in last year's Arc.
He wouldn’t beat a peak Baaeed on Saturday without another surge of improvement but is only seven pounds below the favourite on Timeform ratings and that at least gives the hotpot a little less wiggle-room.
BAY BRIDGE
He looked set for a big season when running away from Mostahdaf and Addeybb in the Brigadier Gerard but it hasn’t quite worked out that way. The change of pace from Sandown was missing when he was second to State Of Rest in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes before he gave way late late to finish fifth in the Coral-Eclipse.
He hasn't run since but is fresh, back on an easy surface and very much a ten-furlong, Group One performer. Another who will make sure Baaeed isn’t allowed a simple lap of honour.
MY PROSPERO
A third entry for Haggas and a colt who went close in his only previous Group One, beaten a head and a short head by Coroebus and Lusail in the St James’s Palace. He’s only run once subsequently, winning the Prix Eugene-Adam at Saint-Cloud. He’s unexposed at this trip and a potential improver, but he needs to find an awful lot more in against these.
DUBAI HONOUR
A stablemate of the favourite but nine lengths behind him in the Juddmonte International at York. He might get his ground for the first time this season on Saturday, but that’s about it if you’re looking towards him being a potential fly in the ointment.
ROYAL CHAMPION
Positives. Well, he recorded a career-best performance when running away with the Doonside Cup at Ayr last time and is only eight races into his career.
The negatives. That was a Listed contest, he’d been found out in Group Three company on his two previous starts and on Saturday he meets one superstar and a couple of other very solid top level performers.
STONE AGE
He ran well under an enterprising ride when fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes last time, beaten less than three lengths. But he was seen to advantage that day and was still unable to repel the closers. There are few bigger engines still lurking in this too.
MAC SWINEY
Another who wants soft ground – but not company as hot as this. He won last year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas but it’s been a long time between drinks and there was nothing in his two runs in the spring and summer to suggest he’s about to reinvent himself again at the weekend.
HELVIC DREAM
He’s been sparingly campaigned for the last couple of seasons and never threatened to repeat a 2021 win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup when last seen in May. The more rain the better for but he’ll need this to be like Ascot in December to have any chance.
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.
