GB: Superstar miler Baaeed is all set for his potentially thrilling clash of the generations with 2,000 Guineas winner Coroebus in the G1 Sussex Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Wednesday, July 27.
Successful in the G3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at last year’s meeting, Baaeed has since registered four consecutive victories at G1 level, most recently dominating in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Speaking on Tuesday [July 19] at a media event organised by Goodwood racecourse, trainer William Haggas issued a positive bulletin on the brilliant four-year-old’s progress.
“We are all set to go with Baaeed, hopefully,” said Haggas. “He worked this morning and, provided everything is OK over the next couple of days, we are away and will see what evolves.”
Looking at the G1 feature, the trainer added: “Coroebus is obviously a high-class horse. Two of ours finished third and fourth [My Prospero and Maljoom] behind him in the St James’s Palace Stakes, not beaten far.
"I was not that impressed with him – and I have to be careful because he is a very smart horse – but I don’t think he was at his best that day. I think Maljoom, and I don’t think this is just trainer talk, would have won in another couple of strides. At the moment, there is a fair bit of distance between Baaeed and Maljoom.”
Baaeed jumped to the top of Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings with his victory in the G1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May before taking his unbeaten career record to eight with an authoritative display at Royal Ascot.
‘A performance dripping with brilliance’ – why Baaeed is here to stay as world #1
Haggas suggested a step up in trip may soon be in the offing, with York’s Juddmonte International a probable target. “I don’t think Baaeed has much to prove but his pedigree smacks of further,” he said.
“He relaxes so well, he has a great mind, and I would love to see him over further at York in Juddmonte International. I remember so vividly when Frankel won that race, it was like a piece of work for him.
“Anyone who was there, it made your hairs stand up because he was imperious. I hope that Baaeed would be able to travel as strongly and then be able to use his turn of foot. I am very keen to have a go.
“We are just starting to say amongst ourselves in the yard that we need to prepare for life after him – which I know sounds a bit pathetic – because he won’t be around for us to enjoy next year. Finding another one is the target.”
Baaeed spearheads a strong Goodwood team for the Newmarket trainer. “The World Pool Len
nox Stakes looks the obvious race for Sacred, as she likes seven furlongs and fast ground,” he added.
“We are going to leave her in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at the owner’s request, just in case the race cuts up, but seven is her best trip.
“We had a similar problem with One Master, who was a seven-furlong specialist. The only G1 race in Europe for four-year-olds over seven is the Prix de la Foret in October, when the ground is soft. One Master loved the soft whereas Sacred doesn’t, so it is difficult to know where to go.
“We will run only one in the Qatar Nassau Stakes and it will either be Lilac Road, who wants fast ground, or My Astra, who can’t have it soft enough. I suspect it will be Lilac Road, because we have had this in mind since she won the Middleton. It is her part-owner Julia Aisbitt’s birthday on Nassau day, so this looks a good target.
“Sea La Rosa will run in the Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes. She won over a mile and five furlongs at Lingfield last year, so she will stay the trip well. She is very tough and very hardy, but I can’t see anything beating Free Wind if she puts up a performance similar to Haydock.
“Montassib will go for the Coral Golden Mile. We own him, which costs money, and he is perfect for all these sort of races. I suspect he will end up in a race like the Balmoral at the end of the year.”
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