Royal Ascot: Baaeed stays unbeaten with dominant win in Queen Anne

Baaeed, who is verging on being called a great horse, got the 2022 Royal Ascot meeting off to a great start Tuesday with a dominant win in the Queen Anne Stakes.

Undefeated after eight starts, Baaeed won his fourth Group 1 in a row, adding the Queen Anne to the J.T. Lockinge on May 14 at Newbury, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last fall at Ascot, and the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in September.

It was a first Queen Anne for trainer William Haggas and jockey Jim Crowley, who has ridden Baaeed his last six starts. Godolphin’s Real World, also second in the Lockinge, ran the race of his life to finish 1 3/4 lengths behind Baaeed, but in the end he was little more than cannon fodder for the overwhelming favorite.

The field of seven separated into two lines in the straight-course mile, Baaeed getting cover from Real World in the three-horse pack coming down the center with the four others nearer the stand’s side rail. Baaeed could not be a more professional racehorse. He settles where and when his rider likes and relaxes until Crowley asks for something more, which he did Tuesday with a little less than a quarter-mile left to race.

:: Royal Ascot 2022: Get PPs, previews, analysis, recaps, and more

Crowley gently steered right and once Baaeed had angled outside Real World, Crowley shook the reins at his mount and Baaeed took off, inhaling the leader in a few strides, never looking like he could lose. Crowley didn’t have to put his mount to real pressure and the Queen Anne, like all Baaeed’s starts save the QE II, where he beat top-class Palace Pier by a neck, turned into a cakewalk.
“When he moved up at the two [furlong] pole, there was never any doubt,” said Crowley. “I was always pretty confident. He’s a very easy ride and I’m not tied down to riding him a certain way; he’s got a great temperament . . . It's the pinnacle. You spend your whole life waiting for a horse like this to come along. Everyone says to enjoy it, but there is a lot of pressure. But I love it and I enjoy it. It's why we do it.”

Order of Australia, racing for the first time this year, finished third, beaten four lengths for second, meaning that Baaeed came home nearly six lengths better than the winner of the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile. Order of Australia had been second in the Moulin, 1 1/4 lengths behind Baaeed.

:: Bet Royal Ascot racing on DRF Bets

Baaeed paid $2.20 on the American tote and clocked 1:37.76 over good-to-firm going. Shadwell Estate Limited owns Baaeed, a homebred by Sea The Stars out of Aghareed, by Kingmambo.

Before he developed into a star miler, Baaeed was expected to prefer longer distances. Haggas said Baaeed could stick to one mile for the Sussex Stakes on July 27 at Goodwood before potentially trying 1 1/4 miles in the Juddmonte International Stakes on Aug. 17 at York.

“He travels well and settles well. That is a really important part if we are going to go farther,” said Haggas. “I think we are all quite keen to give it a go, and that will be at York. It's whether we slot Goodwood in, in the meantime. It's potentially Goodwood next.”

The Queen Anne was a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” race offering automatic fees-paid entry into the BC Mile and travel expenses to Keeneland in November. Truth is, Baaeed might be too good for a trip to America.

Bradsell wins Coventry Stakes

Bradsell’s rapid turn of foot carried him to a 1 1/2-length win over Persian Force in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes, a six-furlong straight-course sprint for 2-year-olds. Hollie Doyle rode the winner for trainer Archie Watson as Persian Force came late to snatch second from Royal Scotsman. Favored Blackbeard finished fourth and American shipper Late September was last of 17. Bradsell clocked 1:13.02 over good-to-firm going and paid $16.20 on the U.S. tote. Bradsell, who won his lone previous start, a six-furlong sprint at York, by nine lengths, is by Tasleet out of Russian Punch, by Archipenko.