With a rating of 128, British Flat horse Baaeed is the highest rated racehorse in the world rankings, and he enhanced his reputation further with another Group One victory at Glorious Goodwood.
HE’S STILL UNBEATEN! 💥
Baaeed stretches out to claim the Qatar Sussex Stakes 🥇
Nine in a row for him! 9️⃣#ITVRacing | #GloriousGoodwood | @Goodwood_Races | #WinandYoureIn | @ShadwellStud pic.twitter.com/q6RY5cw9lO
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 27, 2022
The unbeaten horse prevailed in the Sussex Stakes, one of the most prestigious 1m races in Europe. Under the hands of his regular pilot Jim Crowley, the pair cruised to the front of the field in the closing stages, stretching away from their rivals by just under two lengths.
Baaeed is now expected to step up in distance later this year. Connections have hinted that Juddmonte International Stakes will be his next challenge. He is the odds-on favorite at -175 in the bet on horse racing odds for that race at York.
As the racing results from Paddy Power show, Baaeed’s latest win was his ninth of his career. He maintains his 100% record on the track, and he has now prevailed in five Group One races.
New Challengers at York
The Juddmonte International Stakes at York could see Baaeed take on some new challengers. He has dominated in the 1m division over the last couple of years, meeting the same rivals in those races.
One of the horses Baaeed is likely to come up against in the 1m2f contest is Mishriff. He won the race in 2021 and he has had success all over the world, including in the Saudi Cup and Dubai Sheema Classic.
Native Trail is also expected to have a shot at the feature on day one of the Ebor Festival at York. The Irish 2,000 Guineas winner is considered one of the leading three-year-old colts of his generation. He will be bidding to become the third horse in the last five years to win the race at the age of three.
Baaeed will not be taking on the Derby winner, Desert Crown, at York, as he is set to miss the meeting as he recovers from an injury he picked on the gallops. Sir Michael Stoute’s colt is likely to appear next in the Irish Champion Stakes in September.
Sussex Stakes Success Gives Baaeed a Breeders’ Cup Spot
Baaeed’s victory in the Sussex Stakes has ensured he has qualified for the Breeders’ Cup Championship at Keeneland in November. If connections opt to make the trip across to Kentucky for the world championship meeting, he will line up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
Three of the last four renewals of the Breeders’ Cup Mile have been won by European based horses. Expert Eye prevailed in 2018 for Stoute, Order of Australia scored in 2020 for Aidan O’Brien, while in 2021, it was Space Blues who came out on top for Charlie Appleby.
Other options in October and November for the unbeaten miler include the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp and the British Champions Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot.
Baaeed has already shown he is one of the best of his generation. How he compares to some of the greatest thoroughbreds of all time may depends on what he achieves later in 2022.
