Royal Ascot 2022 opened with a bang when Shadwell Estate Co Ltd’s BAAEED (GB) lived up to his billing as the top-rated horse on turf in the world to extend his perfect record to eight in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) and secured a guaranteed starting position in the US$2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
Other major winners on day 1 of the prestigious meeting included Rod Lyons, Patrick Harrison, Peter Kean et al’s NATURE STRIP (AUS) who turned a clash of hemispheres into a heavily one-sided affair as he sprinted away with the King’s Stand Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot to secure a guaranteed start in the US$1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).
Lyons said the long-range plan for Nature Strip is to win the Everest for a second time in at Royal Randwick in Sydney, though in the immediate term, he is still entered in Saturday’s 6-furlong Platinum Jubilee Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
COREOBUS became the 16th horse to complete the 2,000 Guineas/St James’s Palace Stakes double in the post-war period after edging a thrilling finish to the Group 1 mile contest for colts.
In what turned out to be a steadily-run affair, Coroebus was never too far away from the lead despite being locked in behind horses on the inside. However, the gap came when Lusail edged away from the rail in the straight and, although the classy son of Dubawi had raced a touch keenly, he had enough in the tank to battle his way to the front.
The 10/11 favourite prevailed from runner-up Lusail (28/1) by a head in a bunched finish, with a short-head back to third-placed My Prospero (4/1). The major eyecatcher of the race was Maljoom, who flew home from the back of the field to take fourth.
BAAEED sealed his Breeders’ Cup place though the Win and You’re In route as the 1-6 favorite, coming clear of Godolphin’s Real World (IRE) in the final 1 ½ furlongs to win under hand riding from jockey Jim Crowley in a time of 1:37.76 on a course rated good to firm.
Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Mrs. Ann Marie O’Brien’s Order of Australia (IRE), the winner of the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2020, broke best leading a group of four towards the standside rail.
Baaeed was tucked in behind Real World, who took a separate route towards the middle of the course and once asked to quicken by Crowley, he eased past Real World and was pushed out to win by a 1 ¾ lengths to complete his fourth consecutive Group 1 victory. Order of Australia finished 4 lengths further back in third.
“It doesn’t get any easier than that,” said Crowley. “Everything went smoothly. Baaeed got a lovely tow into the race, the ground is beautiful, and I just let him stretch out for the last furlong of the race. It was like clockwork.
“When he moved up at the two [furlong] pole there was never any doubt. Baaeed will have sterner tests ahead we know that. He is just doing everything perfectly at the moment. This horse is a superstar. I’m sure we’ll keep testing him, but I’m pretty sure he’ll keep finding.”
The winning performance was a huge relief to trainer William Haggas who admitted to pre-race nerves, despite Baaeed’s form superiority. “I must have walked 6,000 steps before breakfast,” he said.
Haggas added: “I felt a little bit of pressure but it’s all great now. Baaeed didn’t look very extended to me. He is obviously a good miler. He is bred to get further and I think it would be remiss of us not to give it a go.”
Should Baaeed be stepped up in distance, the winning connections are considering the Juddmonte International (G1) at York on Aug. 17, a Win and You’re In for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and before that he could take in the 1-mile Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood on July 27, which is another Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series race in the FanDuel Mile division.
Since Shadwell founder Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum died last year, the operation has been passed to his daughter Sheikha Hissa who was present to see Baaeed triumph for the first time.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Baaeed to start in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile. Breeders’ Cup also will provide a US$40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
#RoyalAscot 2022 Racing Highlights: Day One
Lets have a look back at the racing highlights of the opening day of the Royal Meeting! pic.twitter.com/NYnFKRdaOY
— Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 14, 2022
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