Group I racing was at York last night with undefeated champion miler Baaeed stretching his brilliance out to 10 ½ furlongs for the first time in the Group I Juddmonte International, while the familiar colours of Hong Kong owner Bon Ho were carried by a Group II winner that is entered for the Melbourne Cup.
Trained by William Haggas and ridden by Jim Crowley, Sea the Stars stallion Baaeed had no issues with the step up in distance cruising home to win by more than six lengths over Mishriff.
"It's a relief more than anything. He's such a good horse and he proved it and showed everyone today and that's what was so satisfying,” said William Haggas.
"That was pretty spectacular. Aren't we just so lucky? I said to Jim before the Sussex, 'We've got to enjoy this horse, because this time next year when we're watching something else win the Juddmonte we'll be dreaming'.”
Baaeed is slated to be retired to stud after his next start in the Group I Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October, rather than step up to 2400m for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
"He can't do both, it's too close, and we wanted our finale in the Champion Stakes, that's always been the plan," Haggas said.
"I never had any desire to run in the Arc and unless Sheikha Hissa and Angus Gold decide that we're going to do that and miss Ascot, as far as I'm concerned he'll be going for the Champion Stakes."
A homebred for Shadwell, Baaeed had previously only ever raced at the distance of one mile and has kept his record perfect with 10 wins in as many starts.
Baaeed is a full brother to this year’s Group I Epsom Coronation Cup winner Hukum and is the best of three winners from stakes-winning Kingmambo mare Aghareed, who was successful at 2000m and her dam Lahudood, was a Group I winner up to 2200m.
His female family traces in tail female line to Shadwell blue hen Height of Fashion, the dam of Shadwell champion Nashwan, winner of the Epsom Derby in 1989.
The Group II Voltigeur Stakes (1m4f) was won by nearly three lengths by progressive three year-old gelding Deauville Legend trained by James Ferguson and ridden by Daniel Muscutt.
A Group III winner at Newmarket in July and a last start second in the Group III Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, Deauville Legend has three wins and three seconds from seven starts and the Sea the Stars gelding has been entered for the Melbourne Cup for which he is an $18 chance.
“He was a lot to handle as a two-year-old – he was quite colty,” said James Ferguson on the decision to geld Deauville Legend.
“It has brought him on a lot. He is still maturing all the time and it was certainly the right thing to do.
“That was a wonderful stepping stone for his run next, down in Australia hopefully, and I would like to think he is going down there with every chance.”
A 200,000 euro purchase from Arqana for Avenue Bloodstock, Deauville Legend is a full brother to Group II winner Sea La Rosa and is from stakes-winning Hernando mare Soho Rose.
