Bay Bridge, jockey Richard Kingscote, and trainer Sir Michael Stoute sprung an almighty shock as they claimed the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) Saturday at Ascot, with the previously unbeaten Baaeed finishing fourth. It was the final race of Baaeed’s career.
Last seen placing fifth in the Coral Eclipse (G1), Bay Bridge came out on of an intense duel with Adayar, with My Prospero running on strongly to claim third late on.
Into the home straight all eyes were on previously unbeaten Baaeed and Jim Crowley, who tracked William Buick on Adayar. The pair made their bid for glory with a little over 2 ½ furlongs to go and prevailed at 10-1 odds.
Despite moving into contention Baeed failed to accelerate in his customary style. All the while, Kingscote and Bay Bridge enjoyed a smooth passage up the inside and lay down a strong challenge, eventually winning by half a length.
Speaking to ITV immediately after the racing Kingscote commented, “We came here knowing we had a nice horse but taking on one of the best around. You can’t be afraid of one horse and that’s why.
“It’s perfect to ride beautiful horses like this, they’ve always liked him back home and he looked like he had a big one in him and on that ground he showed he’s a really lovely animal.
“He was a bit fresh and ran with enthusiasm in the first three quarters but he was going so well on the turn and he responded by knuckling down really well when William came to us.”
Bay Bridge, a 4-year-old by New Bay out of Hayyona, by Multiplex, finished the approximate 1 1/4-mile trip in 2:09.46 on good to soft turf. He is campaigned by James Wigan and Ballylinch Stud, the latter also landing the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) one race earlier with Bayside Boy, who is co-owned by Teme Valley.
With the victory, Bay Bridge garnered an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge ‘Win and You’re In’ series.
Bayside Boy and Tom Marquand came from the back of the pack to spring a huge surprise at 33/1 to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO)
The pre-race focus had all been on Inspiral and Frankie Dettori who was chasing a third win in a row on the card.
However Inspiral fell out of the stalls and gave away crucial ground. It was to prove a deficit she could not make up.
With the favourite out of the picture, the race was set up to be a battle between Modern Games and Jadoomi, who’d got a break on the field after accelerating with three furlongs to go.
That was before Bayside Boy delivered a remarkable late surge to land his first Group 1.
Speaking to ITV immediately after the race, winning trainer Roger Varian commented, “we thought he was a lively outsider. We’re not going to say we thought he’d win because he had to step up massively but he had very good juvenile form.
“He won the Champagne Stakes and he was third in the Dewhurst. We had high hopes for him this season but he really didn’t enjoy the firm ground in the summer.
“He won nicely at Sandown last time, that must have been a good confidence booster for the horse but we’re delighted with him today. I’m looking forward to watching it again, he showed a great turn of foot.”
Modern Games, who won the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile last month, and Jadoomi, are both expected to head to Keeneland for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on November 5.
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