Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars – Aghareed by Kingmambo) proved he was the real deal as he maintained his unbeaten record to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO). The QE II is a newly-minted Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup.
Billed as one of the best mile contests staged in recent years, the race did not disappoint as the Shadwell-owned winner held off top class Palace Pier by a neck in a thrilling finish.
The three-year-old Baaeed was making it six wins from six career starts and gave jockey Jim Crowley a double on QIPCO British Champions Day following the win of Eshadaa in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.
Five-year-old mare Lady Bowthorpe ran a fantastic race to take third, beaten a length and a quarter in what would be her final start before retirement.
Trainer William Haggas commented, “He’s done it, he’s won today. I think Jim’s words were that he coped with the ground, rather than loved it, and he’s beaten the best miler in Europe. What can you say? I’m thrilled to bits, shaking a lot.
“I watched it, I was walking around a bit, trying to get up to my 10,000 steps a day, well I’ve succeeded that! It was great.”
Crowley said: “I think Baaeed could be a world champion. He’s just a beast, he keeps getting better.
“It was magical. I think people forget he’s come such a long way in a short space of time. It’s a great buzz to ride a horse that good.
“He was a little bit fresh in my hands because I didn’t have any cover, but he was really tough. It was a great race. I thought the first couple of furlongs were sensible enough, then from four down the pace was just relentless, which I thought really suited my lad.
“I’m pretty sure he would stay further if he had to. He’s got a great mind, there doesn’t seem to be any chinks in his armour. He travels so well, the stronger they go in a race the better for him. He’s got a very good turn of foot as well.
“William has done a fantastic job with him. He probably wasn’t 100% going into France and he got the job done, so it was nice to bring him here in tip top condition today.”
Baaeed is not expected to travel to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup.
*It was a victory for France in this year’s Group 1 QIPCO Champion Stakes as Sealiway (FR) (Galiway – Kensea by Kendargent) beat the best of the home team in the 10-furlong showpiece on QIPCO British Champions Day. The Champion Stakes was one of two Win and You’re In races for the Breeders’ Cup on the day.
The contest was billed as a head-to-head between favourite Mishriff and Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Adayar, but neither could land a blow in the closing stages.
It was a race filled with superstars that certainly lived up to its expectations. Adayar, prominent throughout travelled strongly all the way to the three-furlong marker, however the challengers where always going to arrive and arrive they did in the form of Sealiway, Dubai Honour and Mishriff.
In the end, it was the French raider Sealiway who showed all the class and determination necessary to hold off the fast-finishing Dubai Honour, repelling the challenge of the runner-up and prevailing by three-quarters of a length. Irish raider Mac Swiney was the best of the remaining contenders as he outran odds of 40/1 to take third, a further length and a half behind.
Sealiway was ridden by Mickael Barzalona for trainer Cedric Rossi, a combination who were tasting QIPCO British Champions Day glory for the first time on the biggest stage of all.
Barzalona, who memorably won the Derby as a teenager on Pour Moi in 2011, said: “It’s great to be back in the big time and be with this horse since the beginning. He deserved to prove his talent like he did today.
“We had a good draw, he broke well, settled well and we had a good position – it was good. Sealiway showed plenty of stamina in the Arc, but today he showed plenty of speed. He is an excellent horse.”
On the courageous runner up Dubai Honour, William Haggas said: “Dubai Honour was a little bit unfortunate because he’s a hold up horse drawn in stall 10. Adayar missed the break and just as James [Doyle] was trying to get him in, Adayar went hurtling past him and set him alight a bit.
“No excuse, we were quite far back but that’s the way he needs to be ridden. He came with what looked like a winning run, but the other horse outstayed him.
“He’s another that has made great progress. I was thinking that the Hong Kong Cup might suit him. He would enjoy that long straight and seems to run well right handed. I don’t know about Australia for him yet.”
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