*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules
Baaeed successfully stepped up in trip to deliver one of the best performances of the century in the Juddmonte International at York last week.
The Sea The Stars colt took his perfect record to 10 wins with a storming 6½l victory from last year’s hero Mishriff in the £1million renewal and attention immediately turned to where he would race next.
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Trainer William Haggas has plotted three possible paths to retirement for Baaeed – going for the Irish Champion Stakes and Champion Stakes double, travelling to Paris for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe or heading straight to Ascot for the Champion Stakes.
Speaking in the wake of Baaeed‘s sensational run at York, Haggas said: “Everything is possible at the moment, even the Arc. I have to talk to Sheikha Hissa, but we’re going to enjoy the moment and don’t need to make any decisions yet.
“If Sheikha Hissa wants him to have two races, [the Irish Champion Stakes and then the Champion Stakes] would be the one. If Sheikha Hissa is happy to go the Champion only, then that would be the route. If she would like to go for the Arc, that would be the one and the rest would not be in the equation.
“It’s just a case of how much I let him off. I would let him off a bit if we were going straight to the Champion Stakes, but if we were going elsewhere I don’t need to let him off too much.”
So what will be Baaeed’s next race? We’ve taken a look at the three contests under consideration and you can see the wonder horse’s odds for each renewal via our snazzy widgets.
Irish Champion Stakes
Date: Saturday, September 10
Time: 3:45PM
Racecourse: Leopardstown
Distance: 1m2f
The Haggas yard doesn’t send too many across the Irish Sea, saddling just 17 runners in Ireland over the last five years. The Irish Champion Stakes takes place 24 days after the Juddmonte International, although there was a similar turnaround time between the Sussex Stakes and his blistering run at York.
Baaeed could face fresh challengers over 10 furlongs including French Derby and Coral-Eclipse winner Vadeni and 2000 Guineas third Luxembourg.
Haggas said: “He’s in the race and we’ll just see what happens but he’d have to be in pretty rude health to be going to Ireland, so we shall see.”
Leopardstown operations manager Jane Hedley said: “We’d be honoured to host him at Leopardstown. It would be a phenomenal day if he came. It’s shaping up to be a brilliant race already, and if Baaeed were to turn up it would be one of the races of the year. It would be amazing.”
Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
Date: Sunday, October 2
Time: 3:00PM
Racecourse: Longchamp
Distance: 1m4f
The racing romantics are talking up the prospect of Baaeed biding to emulate his sire, Sea The Stars, by signing off his career with victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. A trip to Paris would represent a significant change of plans by connections but it is the greatest middle-distance race in the world with a lucrative prize pot to boot.
There are a couple of minor concerns, however, as the last two renewals have been run on heavy ground – Baaeed has never raced on going worse than good to soft – and it would be a further step up in trip.
He would also likely face a string of 12 furlong specialists including superstar mare Alpinista, last year’s winner Torquator Tasso and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes scorer Pyledriver.
Alpinista’s trainer Sir Mark Prescott said: “I would like Mr Haggas to decide to stick to his guns and run in the races where he had originally aimed Baaeed for – I think that would be a great help.”
Champion Stakes
Date: Saturday, October 15
Time: 4:20PM
Racecourse: Ascot
Distance: 1m2f
The contest where Haggas and co had planned to bring down the curtain on Baaeed’s brief but brilliant racing career. Baaeed would follow in Frankel’s legendary hooves if he were to tackle the Champion Stakes after victory in the Juddmonte International.
Victory at Ascot would help Haggas land the trainers’ championship and the Newmarket-based handler boasts seven entries for the race including 2020 winner Addeybb, Alenquer and German 2000 Guineas hero Maljoom.
The make up of the field would probably depend on which horses go for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, although last year’s winner Sealiway and 2021 Epsom Derby hero Adayar could provide fresh opposition.
Speaking in the wake of Baaeed’s heroics at York, Shadwell racing manager Angus Gold said: “I spoke to Sheikha Hissa briefly after the race and asked if she would even be thinking of the Arc, but she said she thought it best to stick to William’s plan and end up at Ascot so for the moment we’ll stick with that.”
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
READ MORE
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest racing tips
- When is the Irish Champion Stakes 2022? Leopardstown date, start time, runners and betting
- When is the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2022? Longchamp date, start time, runners and betting
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