Having set off at 1-7 for his latest wins at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, the unbeaten Baaeed (3.35) feels more backable at around 4-9 as he steps up to a mile-and-a-quarter for the first time in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday.
The fact that Baaeed has yet to prove himself at 10 furlongs is one reason for the bookies’ apparent generosity but favourite backers also have a fresh and, on his day, highly talented opponent to worry about in Mishriff.
John and Thady Gosden’s five-year-old put up a career-best performance to win last year’s International by six lengths, and a return to that level of form would certainly provide Baaeed with his sternest test since Palace Pier ran him to a neck in last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
William Haggas’s colt has a Frankel-esque aura of invincibility, however, and as a son of the Derby-winning Sea The Stars, could actually improve for the extra quarter-mile. He has a few pounds in hand of Mishriff on ratings, his running style gives Jim Crowley plenty of options tactically and it will be a major surprise if Baaeed does not extend his unbeaten record into double figures.
York 1.50 The eight-year-old veterans Copper Knight and Dakota Gold are both looking for a record-breaking seventh win on the Knavesmire but could be vulnerable to a less exposed rival in Dusky Lord. Like Dakota Gold, he is drawn high at a track where low numbers usually have an edge but there is plenty of pace on the stands’ side which should leave the four-year-old poised to strike in the closing stages.
York 2.25 Jane Chapple-Hyam has already beaten last year’s record prize-money total and Mill Stream could add another £85,000 to the pot here. His close second behind the potentially top-class Noble Style in a Newmarket maiden last month is rock-solid form and early odds of around 7-2 look to underestimate his chance.
Wolverhampton 1.05 Bluebell Time 1.40 Lady Hamana 2.15 Miss Blennerhasset 2.50 Sir Gregory 3.25 Hot Team 4.00 Pope Gregory 4.35 Thunder Flash
York 1.50 Dusky Lord 2.25 Mill Stream 3.00 Deauville Legend (nap) 3.35 Baaeed 4.10 Frankenstella (nb) 4.45 Pink Crystal 5.20 Bakeel
Musselburgh 2.05 Good Measure 2.40 Leading Company 3.15 Earn Your Stripes 3.50 Ramon Di Loria 4.25 Timbukone 4.56 Motarajja
Worcester 4.29 Princess Midnight 5.00 Atlantic Storm 5.32 Oscar Montel 6.05 Light N Strike 6.40 Accidental Rebel 7.10 Sweet Moon 7.40 Bagan 8.10 Envol De La Cour
Kempton Park 5.05 Three Dons 5.40 Storyinthesand 6.15 She's Hot 6.50 Ward Castle 7.20 Arctician 7.50 Under The Twilight 8.20 Bungle Bay
York 3.05 Secret State, the likely favourite, gave 4lb to Deauville Legend in a handicap at Royal Ascot and beat him by a head, but James Ferguson’s gelding has made rapid progress in two starts since, including a close second in a strongly-run Group Three at Glorious Goodwood last time. At around 7-2, he has distinct prospects of reversing the Ascot form.
York 4.10 Frankenstella won over course and distance as a three-year-old in 2020 and ran well on her return to action on the Knavesmire in May. At around 10-1, she is a fair price for a fiercely-competitive stayers’ handicap.
