Baaeed remains unbeaten with 10th straight success in Juddmonte International Stakes at York

Trained by William Haggas and ridden by Jim Crowley for owners Shadwell Estate, the 2/5 favourite emulated his sire Sea The Stars with victory in the day-one feature of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival.

Ryan Moore took the field along at a strong gallop aboard High Definition but he was a spent force soon after turning into the famous home straight.

Baaeed was still travelling powerfully and Crowley was keen to keep him tucked in behind James Doyle on Mishriff, who helped take the winner deep into the race hard on the bridle.

His jockey asked for an effort around a furlong and a half out and the four-year-old duly poured it on, much to the delight of the heaving crowds on the Knavesmire, and ultimately passed the post six and a half lengths to the good over the 2021 hero, Mishriff (4/1).

Baaeed was cut to 4/6 from 5/4 for the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot by Sky Bet, who also offer 6/1 for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Paddy Power are 5/4 for the Arc with the non-runner no-bet proviso.

WATCH: Baaeed batters his rivals on first attempt at 10 furlongs!

Crowley: As good as the greats

Baaeed's jockey Jim Crowley told ITV Racing: “I just couldn’t believe it. I’ve always known he was there, from day one, the very first time I rode him at Newmarket, I knew he was a bit special then.

“It is very hard to say things like that because you can always get beaten and every horse is beatable.

“But he just has everything – he is the perfect racehorse. I’m not joking, I think he could win a July Cup up to a mile and a half. He has everything. He is an easy ride and was on it today. He took a nice hold going down to the start.

“He is not ground dependent – he is just the perfect racehorse.”

“It was great. I was always in control. I will never find another horse like this again.

“He is as good as the greats.”

Massive relief for Haggas and team

Haggas added: “Just give him credit for what he does – don’t compare him to (2012 winner) Frankel. It was a superlative performance and very satisfying to see him on the bridle a furlong and a half out. It proves he gets the trip.

“I was tense. I was happy with him. We had a little scare with a veterinary issue before the race, which I will deal with later, and those sort of things add to a bit of pressure. All my family are here and my darling wife is laid up at home – I hope this makes her feel better.

“He will go for the Champion Stakes at Ascot. He can’t do both (the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Champion Stakes), and we wanted our finale in the Champion Strakes and that has always been the plan.

“It was a spectacular performance and I’m glad now that everyone will believe me. We think he is fantastic and have felt so for some time. Sure, I have been slow to get him up in trip, but he has been so dominant at a mile. Why? Because this was a perfect opportunity, he clearly stays it well.

“He has just got a fabulous engine and a fabulous temperament. And, as I have said a few times, finding me another one is going to be the tricky bit.”

Timeform verdict: Creeping up towards sire's rating

By David Cleary

Baaeed, beforehand the best horse to race in Europe since Battaash, took his form to another level with a stunning performance in the Juddmonte International.

In quickening away on the bridle from last year's winner Mishriff, to score by six and a half lengths, Baaeed ran to a level very few horses have achieved in the twenty-first century, his likely revised Timeform rating edging ever closer to that of his own sire Sea The Stars. And the opportunity is there for even more to come.

Although campaigned solely at a mile previously, Baaeed proved really well suited by an extra quarter mile, his turn of foot a potent weapon against even a horse as good as Mishriff.

The runner-up, away on terms this time, seemed much more his old self; Sir Busker ran really well in third, though perhaps flattered a shade in picking up the pieces late on.

The disappointment of the race was Native Trail, the sole three-year-old, who ran a flat race, unable to pick up when asked and weakening late on.

Reaction from connections of the beaten horses

John Gosden said he had “no complaints” after Baaeed easily accounted for defending champion Mishriff.

“He has run great, absolutely,” he said. “I was saying earlier when they asked me on the TV what I thought about Baaeed, and I said I think he will actually be a better horse over this trip. He has been crying out for it, the winner. We have run great, he’s done nothing wrong and we are very happy with him.

“We probably could have done with good to firm ground rather than the rain they had overnight, but no complaints whatsoever – he has run a nice race.”

Though Sir Busker started tardily, the 100/1 chance stayed on well under Ben Curtis to finish third, some nine lengths behind the winner.

His trainer, William Knight, said: “He was slow away, which he has done a couple of times now, I’m not sure why. I think when we really looked at it, that was the best possible position we could finish and that was fantastic.”

The Newmarket handler is now contemplating an overseas sortie at the back end of the season for the six-year-old.

“He might have a little break now,” said Knight. “He has had a long season. He started off quite early and has had some hard races, but we will sleep on it. Australia has been mentioned – the Cox Plate – or potentially Bahrain.”

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