Goodwood: Baaeed wins Sussex Stakes to remain unbeaten

Baaeed is rated the best horse in the world in the Longines World Thoroughbred Rankings, and he certainly was the best horse in the Sussex Stakes on Wednesday at Goodwood Racecourse.

Baaeed was nearly nonchalant winning the Group 1 Sussex by 1 3/4 lengths over 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf victor Modern Games, who got eight pounds from 4-year-old Baaeed. In fact, Baaeed has been the best horse in all nine of his races. Top miler Palace Pier has come closest to beating Baaeed, having been beaten a neck in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last October.

Baaeed, a Shadwell Estate homebred by Sea the Stars out of Aghareed, by Kingmambo, now has won Group 1 races in his last five starts, concluding his 2021 campaign in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and the QE II, and winning the J.T. Lockinge and the Queen Anne before capturing the Sussex.

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Modern Games finished 1 3/4 lengths in front of Alcohol Free, who’d won the 2021 Sussex as a 3-year-old filly. Modern Games has two North American targets, trainer Charlie Appleby said: the Woodbine Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Winning time over good to firm going was 1:37.74.

All Baaeed’s starts have come at one mile, but he will stretch to 1 1/4 miles Aug. 17 in the International Stakes at York. If that goes well, Baaeed could be aimed at the 1 1/4-mile Champion Stakes at Ascot in October. Baaeed isn’t nominated to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe over 1 1/2 miles, nor has there been a peep about the BC Mile. The Sussex was a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In race, offering a fees-paid entry to the BC Mile and travel expenses to Keeneland.

Baaeed, deftly handled by trainer William Haggas, has drawn comparisons to the great Frankel, who also dominated the mile division before stretching out in the International. But Frankel crushed his opposition in a way Baaeed rarely has done.

Wednesday, under regular rider Jim Crowley, Baaeed cruised along sixth of seven to the half-mile pole. Bathrat Leon led into the three-furlong homestretch, with Chindit pressing up on his outside, Order of Australia following Chindit, and Baaeed, Crowley motionless, waiting behind Order of Australia. Baaeed rated beautifully, dutifully waiting for Crowley to give him a cue, and with a quarter-mile to run, Crowley pulled out from behind Order of Australia and moved his hands on his mount’s neck, asking for acceleration Baaeed immediately produced. Baaeed had just about made the front, Modern Games coming into contention between horses when the roar of the Goodwood crowd hit the field; Crowley said he felt Baaeed start to ease up and thus gave his mount a couple reminders with his crop. In four strides, Baaeed stormed well clear of Modern Games, shutting down again just before the finish.

“It’s just a piece of work,” Crowley said. “He hardly blew afterward.”

Baaeed has blown away every horse that’s faced him over one mile. In a few weeks, we’ll see if it’s more over the same over 1 1/4 miles from, arguably, the best horse in the world.