Baaeed to bow out in the Champion Stakes at Ascot

Baaeed, the best British racehorse since Frankel, will race for the last time in the QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 15.

This will be welcome news for his opponents everywhere as the son of Sea The Stars has literally proved to be unbeatable in all of his ten career starts to date … and trainer William Haggas’s announcement confirming that Ascot, and not Longchamp, will be the venue for Baaheed’s last assignment on the racetrack should also be music to the ears of the connections of Verry Elleegant.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe has always been pencilled in as a possible target for the 2021 Melbourne Cup winner, but, had the decision regarding Baaeed’s farewell run come down in favour of going to the Arc instead of the Champion Stakes, it would have been a tough call to ask Verry Elleegant to go up against the British champion.

Now the pathway to the Arc has been made infinitely easier for Verry Elleegant, although it is still no certainty that she will go there.

Should Baaeed win at Ascot, he will go to stud with the perfect record (11 wins from 11 starts), just as the mighty Frankal did when he retired to stud with a record of 14 wins from 14 starts.

Baaeed trashed his rivals in a 6.50 drubbing in his last start in the 2000m Juddmonte International in his first start beyond a mile, which seemed to open the door to extending the distance to the 2400m of the Arc.

“He was very impressive in the Juddmonte International and it was only right that we explored every option,” Haggas told Sporting Life, “but I, in particular, was very keen to keep him at a mile and a quarter and therefore the Champion Stakes was the only logical solution.

“There are many, I’m sure, who are going to be disappointed that he is not going to be running in the Arc, but we can’t do both and we all feel that it is the right decision for the horse, so Ascot it will be.”

The Champion Stakes was won by Frankel in 2012 at a starting price of 2-11. Bookmaker’s expect Baaeed could go off at very similar odds to the champion in whose footsteps he has followed for much of his career.