Baaeed goes to the Juddmonte International “in good shape” despite the viruses afflicting his William Haggas stablemates Alenquer and Maljoom.
Alenquer was announced a non-runner from the ten-furlong Group 1 after returning a dirty scope, days after the same complaint had ruled Maljoom out of last Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois. But Angus Gold, racing manager to the unbeaten star’s owner, the late Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s daughter, Sheikha Hissa, said yesterday: “All you can do – all the trainer and their team can do – is check everything they possibly can.
“They have scoped him and he was clean as I understand it, so you can’t invent problems. You’d probably rather not have seen a couple of stablemates scope dirty but you get plenty of that at this time of year. Just because one’s sick, it doesn’t mean the others are and hopefully it’s nothing significant. All we can do is do the tests on him and he’s scoped well so far, so we’re going there in good shape.”
After nine straight victories, including five at the top level, at a mile, Baaeed tackles an additional two furlongs for the first time as he takes on five rivals. He is just 2-5 in the betting to extend his winning sequence on the Knavesmire.
“Both on his pedigree and his style of racing – this is a game of opinions and some people I respect are saying he’s not going to stay, and obviously they are entitled to their thoughts – I’d be amazed if it’s the lack of stamina that beats him,” added Gold.
Sheikha Hissa agrees with Gold that Baaeed, who opened his account in June 2021 and was a dual Group 1 hero four months later, should cope with the extra yardage. His dam Aghareed's progeny, Hukum and Kasbaan, both won over longer trips, while sire Sea The Stars took the 2009 Derby at Epsom.
Firmly embracing her late father Sheikh Hamdan's long tradition with thoroughbreds, Sheikha Hissa is looking forward to seeing the world's top-rated horse take a new challenge.
Baaeed has been inevitably compared Frankel, who arrived at York unbeaten in 2012 and stamped his authority on the contest, which is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
“Sea The Stars leaves a mark on his foals and Baaeed takes a lot of his temperament and how he is from him, but I’m glad he looks like his mum Aghareed," Sheikha Hissa said.
"My father would have loved him, as home breds always gave him special pride, especially from the Nashwan family.”
Last year's commanding winner Mishriff is second in the betting for the feature contest on day one of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival.
"His work gives us a pretty good measure of where he’s at, and he’s in very good form," said co-trainer Thady Gosden. “The Juddmonte is the summer’s premier mile and a quarter race and it’s great to see these horses take each other on. Whatever happens, it’s going to be an exceptional race.”
