Brilliant Baaeed dominates Sussex Stakes at Goodwood for ninth straight victory
Dubai: Shadwell’s Baaeed, the world’s highestrated horse, produced a devastating turn of foot under Jim Crowley to take his unbeaten record to nine races in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at the Goodwood on Wednesday.
Japanese raider Bathrat Leon set a sensible pace in the mile showpiece, with the William Haggas-trained Baaeed patiently ridden towards the back of the seven-strong field.
Cruising on the bridle, Baaeed was pulled wide by Crowley and immediately found another gear, powering clear to win by an easy length and three-quarters at odds of 1/6, with French Guineas winner Modern Games chasing him home.
Alcohol Free, last year’s winner, was a further length and three-quarter back in third in the seven-runner race run over the mile trip.
The four-year-old Sea The Stars colt captured his fith Group 1 prize.
Baaeed’s successes so far has been over the mile trip and his next stop is Group 1 Juddmonte International at York on August 17, a race that will see the best horse in the world stepping up to 1m2½f for the first time.
“I’m relieved it’s over. Baaeed is such a nice horse. It’s great,” said Haggas, who confirmed York’s Juddmonte International as the next target.
“Today was a big day. I can’t tell you how sad it is for all of us that Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is not here to witness it. He did everything for days like this and he would have loved it.
“Baaeed has speed and class. I’m really looking forward to stepping up to 10 furlongs as I think he would enjoy it.”
Comparisons with Frankel - who went to York ater his second win in the Sussex before signing off at Ascot in the Champion Stakes - continue to be inevitable.
“He just does what he has to,” jockey
Crowley told ITV.
“Just before the winning line he pinned his ears and completely shut out everything, it’s a pleasure to be part of his journey.
“The feeling I got between the three and the two, no horse could you give you that sort of feel.
He has everything.
“He has a turn of foot and you could put him anywhere in the race,” added Crowley.
Modern Games lost nothing in defeat and delighted the connections with his effort.
The Dubawi colt had been a late replacement for 2,000 Guineas hero Coroebus in the mile showpiece but himself brought Classic-winning form into the race, having decisively captured the Poule d’essai des Poulains in May.
Ater breaking smartly for William Buick, Modern Games raced in third on the inside of Order
Of Australia as Bathrat Leon and Chindit led the seven runners.
Moderngamesralliedgamely,regainingsecond from Bathrat Leon half a furlong to go down by a length and three-quarters – the same distance that Real World finished behind Baaeed in the queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Trainer Charlie Appleby said: “Modern Games is like his father, he goes down on his sword. Everyone said that we had a substitute for Coroebus but Modern Games is no substitute - he has won a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and a French Guineas. I’d like to have a few more substitutes like that!
“William has given him a great ride. Baaeed is a very good horse and full plaudits to him, but we are delighted from our point of view.
“Wehavealwaysworkedbackfromthebreeders’ Cup Mile, and that is going to be the plan. I don’t think you will see him now in Europe next – he will either go to Canada or Keeneland in the autumn and then the Breeders’ Cup Mile.”
Meanwhile, Warren Point is lightly-raced but he is showing all the signs of a Dubawi on the improve in the second half of his three-year-old season. He is expected to go close in Thursday’s Kincsem Handicap, over 10 furlongs, which will be only his fourth outing.
Appleby said: “Dropping back in distance from a mile and a half will suit him. He finished a good second to Wild Crusade at Ascot last time, and the experience he has gained so far will hopefully see further improvement. I’m very pleased with him.”
On the same Thursday card, New London will tackle the G3 Gordon Stakes, over a mile and a half.
The one-time Derby hopeful, who finished second in the G3 Chester Vase in May, went to Newmarket to win a Heritage Handicap last start to put him back in Group races.