Ahead of Baaeed’s final run in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on Saturday, the former champion jockey talks Jon Lees through the six G1 victories that catapulted the superstar colt to world #1 status.
GB: Ten out of ten, still unbeaten and not serious challenged for a 12-month period. That’s probably why Baaeed is rated world #1 on turf according to Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings.
Trained in Newmarket by William Haggas, the four-year-old is a son of the great Derby and Arc winner Sea The Stars. Having started out in a Leicester maiden as a three-year-old in June 2021, Baaeed has developed into the equine superstar of European racing.
Since beating top miler Palace Pier in a duel for that year’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, this sensational colt has followed precisely the same path as the great Frankel, claiming top spot on the world rankings in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and staying there for the rest of the season.
Baaeed is unquestionably one of the best horses ever to emerge from the hugely successful Shadwell racing and breeding operation, established by the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. The great sadness is that the sheikh died in March 2021 without ever seeing Baaeed race, leaving his daughter Sheikha Hissa to enjoy that privilege.
Winner of five G1 races over a mile, he produced the most impressive performance of an unblemished career when stepped up to a mile and a quarter for the first time in August in the Juddmonte International at York’s Ebor meeting.
Just as Frankel did before him, Baaeed is due to bid farewell in the Champion Stakes, the highlight of Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot on October 15. Before the final curtain, we asked his jockey Jim Crowley to take us through his six G1 wins.
1. Sept 5, 2021: Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – ParisLongchamp
(beat Order Of Australia by 1¼ lengths; TRC race rating 123)
After taking the step up to Pattern-race company with aplomb via a 6½- length victory in the G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood, Baaeed stepped up to the top level for the first time when he visited France on his fifth career start.
But although he was sent off 1-2 favourite to maintain his unbeaten record, it was to be no cakewalk as the much heralded colt had to get racing early in the straight after the German filly Novemba opened a clear advantage. However, Baaeed reeled her in and was driven out to repel the threat of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Order Of Australia and Victor Ludorum.
Jim Crowley says: “I was quite confident going into the race. Everything went reasonably smoothly apart from that the pacemaker missed the kick and then rushed up past him. He was a little bit workmanlike that day – I knew he was probably better than that – but it was lovely to get that first Group 1 with him.”
2. Oct 15, 2021: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Ascot
(beat Palace Pier by a neck, 1¼l; TRC race rating 131)
The only race since his career debut at Leicester in June 2021 for which Baaeed has not gone off favourite. And there was good reason, too, as he faced a head-to-head with reigning champion miler Palace Pier, who arrived with a career record of nine wins from ten starts. Sensing the danger Baaeed posed to Palace Pier, Frankie Dettori rode his horse to beat the favourite’s main rival, taking several glances over his left shoulder to check on Crowley. But when the sprint for the line began just over a furlong out, it was the Shadwell colt who proved too strong.
Jim Crowley says: “This was probably one of the strongest races he has run in as there were plenty of Group 1 winners in the race. I was drawn on the wing of the field and they raced up the far rail so he didn’t have any cover. I thought the pace was really slow and then from three furlongs down they kicked; it went from being slow to kicking on plenty soon enough. I basically wanted to keep tabs on Frankie but Baaeed was always in control and I always felt I had the better of Palace Pier. There didn’t look to be any obvious excuses for Palace Pier and the best horse won on the day.”
3. May 14, 2022: Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes – Newbury
(beat Real World by 3¼ lengths; TRC race rating 133)
A new season and new targets – and Baaeed certainly did not disappoint on his first outing for six months. There was no sign of race rustiness as he comfortably dispatched Real World, with G1 winners Alcohol Free and Mother Earth, fourth and seventh respectively. With only one stroke of Crowley’s whip, Baaeed quickened away for an easy win. Comparisons with the legendary Frankel now began in earnest.
Jim Crowley says:“I had actually ridden him in work at the beginning of the year and he worked absolutely unbelievably, so I was very confident going into the Lockinge. There is always a little bit of pressure because it was his first run of the year. The race couldn’t have gone any smoother. He won pretty effortlessly and I thought he was really impressive.”
4. June 14 2022: Queen Anne Stakes – Royal Ascot
(beat Real World by 1¾ lengths; TRC race rating 128)
Real World cut the margin of victory by two lengths but the Royal Ascot outcome was never in doubt. Baaeed simply toyed with the pace-setting Godolphin runner as he cruised upsides with just under a quarter of a mile to race before being pushed out with hands and heels to justify his starting odds of 1-6.
Jim Crowley says:“Although it might not have looked very impressive, he actually ran the last two furlongs faster than Nature Strip in the King’s Stand Stakes the same day. Real World is a very good horse who probably hasn’t quite had the credit he deserves. It was very A-to-B stuff, very easy, like a piece of work.”
5. July 27, 2022: Qatar Sussex Stakes – Goodwood
(beat Modern Games by 1¾ lengths; TRC race rating 127)
Now Baaeed faced the challenge of the Classic generation at a mile. Main rival at Goodwood was French Guineas winner Modern Games, who had also scored at the Breeders’ Cup at two. At weight-for-age the Godolphin three-year-old was receiving 8lb. It made scant difference as Baaeed drew alongside and quickened away, doing no more than was required for a straightforward victory.
With nothing more to prove over a mile, his next nominated challenge would be the Juddmonte International, over an extended mile and a quarter, at York .
Jim Crowley says: “This was a great run. I held him up in last. The pace wasn’t overly strong but he cut the field down very quickly and put the race to bed. He actually pricked his ears and when he hit the front; he shut down a little bit with me. He had a French Guineas winner in second in Modern Games, who franked the form in North America later in the summer. I was quite impressed with Baaeed, really, as he has now probably proved a mile and a quarter is his best distance, so for him to do what he did over a mile was remarkable.”
6. Aug 17, 2022: Juddmonte International – York
(beat Mishriff by 6½ lengths; TRC race rating 135)
Stepped up to a mile and a quarter, Baaeed produced the most impressive performance of his outstanding career. With the 2021 winner Mishriff heading the opposition, the race had promised to be a proper test of Baaeed’s world #1 status. At least on paper.
In reality it was a one-horse demolition, suggesting Baaeed was an even better horse over the longer distance than he was over a mile. Under a skilfully executed ride, Baaeed travelled powerfully into the slipstream of Mishriff before being driven out for an exhilarating runaway success.
Talk of a crack at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe over a mile and a half was eventually shut down as connections reverted to the original plan by giving Baaeed his final start in the Qipco Champion Stakes.
Jim Crowley says: “I was extremely confident going into the race. Sometimes small fields can become really tactical but the race went really smoothly. I was able to switch him back in between the three- and two-furlong pole and go through horses. He was always cantering and as soon as I let him go, he put the race to bed very quickly. I thought it was his most impressive performance – and for sure it was my best moment too. There was a lot of expectation. York had done such an amazing job and a lot of people had come to see him. It was an all-round fantastic day. I knew he was a very good horse but he hadn’t been winning that far over a mile so it was nice to give the crowd something to remember.”
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