Equinties - No winning swansong for BAAEED

Gm Equinauts 

Saturday's racing was supposed to be a day to remember. The build up was insane and every single racing fan in the world was undoubtedly tuned in to see BAAEED cement his place in history. 

But it all ended in such an anticlimax. I think everyone came away feeling a little sad and had a sense of sympathy for Haggas and (especially) Crowley who looked just so upset.

Let's dive in.

Headline Roundup

BAAEED fails to Bridge the gap between him and FRANKEL 

It was supposed to be THE final race. The same route as Frankel. BAAEED's perfect swansong. 

Yes, William Haggas’ BAAEED was comfortably beaten in the 1m2f Gr1 Champion Stakes on Saturday as Sir Michael Stoute’s BAY BRIDGE put his Eclipse disappointment behind him to bag his maiden Group 1 victory.  

Going off as the 1/4f, the roof remained firmly on the Ascot grandstand as the four-year-old son of SEA THE STARS failed to pick up when asked by his jockey, something Jim Crowley blamed the ground for. 

Although they were both heartbroken after the race, what has to be mentioned is how Crowley and Haggas spoke about the in the minutes following his defeat – they must have been aching inside (too right) but for them to speak so openly to the media after is commendable.  

It’s hard not to be sad when things like this happen. We in horse racing want to see THE BEST horses win THE BEST races, not necessarily the good horses but the ultimate, top draw, 'no one better' horses.  

Love him or hate him, BAAEED was that – he might not be a FRANKEL or SEA THE STARS, but he is the best horse we have seen in recent years, so for him to finish his career in this way (unless they go to the Breeders’ Cup like Matt ‘Yeehaw’ Chapman wants them to) is disappointing.  

However, take nothing away from him, he is a true champion. Thank you, Baaeed.  

Trueshan bounces back 

He did it, and boy was it a proper race! 

In the opening contest of Champions Day, TRUESHAN got back to winning ways as he clung on in the final stages to beat BGP Grad COLTRANE by a head in a ding-dong battle (the newsletter weekender basically tipped the forecast).

Say what you want about Hollie Doyle’s rides at Doncaster and Goodwood on this horse in his previously two starts, she gave Alan King’s staying star a 10/10, and illegal, ride to grind out victory in front of the packed-out Ascot – Hollie Doyle was handed a two-day ban for early interference with COLTRANE and ELDAR ELDAROV, and was given a further three days for interference with WORDSWORTH around the final bend.  

We were all so pleased to see our boy COLTRANE run a huge race in second with not the easiest passage through the race, so well done to him – Hollie was equally as proud to see TRUESHAN back in the winner’s enclosure.  

To complete the married couple double, Hollie Doyle’s husband (day one huns know what I’m on about) scooped up the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at odds of 33/1 with BAYSIDE BOY, denying MODERN GAMES and JADOOMI late in the race after INSPIRAL blew the start.  

Frankie on the double 

Lanfranco landed a 15/1 double on Champions Day from two consecutive rides as he rode KINROSS and EMILY UPJOHN to success in the Gr1 Champions Sprint and the Gr1 Champions Filles & Mares respectively.  

Starting with the former, Ralph Beckett’s five-year-old took to the drop in trip well as he galloped the field into submission, landing a fourth Group victory on the bounce and his second Group 1 of his career – this is a proper horse, you can’t throw any stones at him 

And with the latter, she was coming off an 84-day break after being pumped in the Gr1 King George, but back against her own sex, she cantered to a three-length victory in the third race of the day. 

She will remain in training next year, which is brilliant to hear, and the King George and Arc are her big targets for the season – bullish talk from John Gosden.  

Risk on

We're still getting organised after Tatt's, any bets will be posted on Twitter.