RAISING THE BAA
WON BY BAAEED 4/9F AT NEWBURY Big win puts Haggas-trained horse on edge of greatness
BAAEED romped home in Newbury’s Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes to announce himself as the best horse since Frankel – and even that qualification may be living on borrowed time.
With an unbeaten six-from-six record as a three-year-old – Baaeed did not race as a juvenile – the William Haggas-trained son of Sea The Stars, whose last two wins had been at Group 1 level, had already established himself as a miler of the highest calibre.
But yesterday’s comeback, a comprehensive three-and-a-quarterlength supremacy from Real World, put Jim Crowley’s mount on the edge of greatness.
“There was a bit of pressure,” admitted the 4-9 winner’s trainer.
“All you fellas keep writing nice things about him.
“I just hoped he’d win – you can find lots of negatives – and I’m glad that’s all over. He was a 4-9 shot – most 4-9 shots win very easily – and he won very easily. There was a lot to enjoy, and I’ll enjoy the replay even more.
“Jim rode him at Chelmsford two weeks ago and it was ‘whoa!’ – Jim was beaming when I got to him.”
Frankel, the last great horse tutored by the late Sir Henry Cecil – he retired with a perfect record of 14 victories from as many starts – captured the 2012 Lockinge as a fouryear-old, before lifting Royal Ascot’s Queen Anne Stakes the following month.
Baaeed is set to follow the same path – he is a 1-2 for an eighth career triumph in the meeting’s opening race on June 14 – with a step up to a mile and a quarter for York’s Juddmonte International, also won by Frankel that summer, on his to-do list.
“Frankel was arguably at his most imperious when he won the Juddmonte
on that unforgettable day,” added Haggas (left).
“It would be a shame not to try it and as long as we can keep him fit – physically and mentally – then his campaign is fairly straightforward.”
Crowley – the jockey wore the colours of his late boss, Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum – enthused: “You would imagine a race like the
LOCKINGE STAKES, GROUP 1
Juddmonte would be tailor-made for him. The race was very smooth – it was like a piece of work.
“I asked him to pick up going to the two-pole and he just went through the gears.
“He is a serious horse – when I rode him at Chelmsford and pulled up I was speechless.
“He is very exciting, and I am sure Sheikh Hamdan, who spent a lifetime trying to breed a horse like this, is watching down.
“I can’t think of a weakness – this horse looks like he could be the best.”
Richard Hannon compared Persian Force to Canford Cliffs after the two-year-old son of Mehmas landed the BetVictor Conditions Stakes to earn a 5-1 quote for Royal Ascot’s Group 2 Coventry Stakes.
Canford Cliffs, handled by his father, Richard Snr, won the Coventry en route to five top-level triumphs.
Hannon said: “He is a seriously good horse.
“Since Canford Cliffs’ days, he is the most exciting two-year-old we have had.”