Angus Gold on Baaeed: 'I'd hate people to think Arc is definitely the decision'

Angus Gold says he would personally love nothing more than for Baaeed to round off his career in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, an event he described as "the greatest race in the world".

But Shadwell's long-serving racing manager and wise counsel to the late Hamdan Al Maktoum has warned that nobody should get carried away with the idea that the choice of the Arc over the Qipco Champion Stakes is a done deal.

Laying out the terms under which Sheikh Hamdan's daughter, Sheikha Hissa, and trainer William Haggas will come to a decision, Gold said: "For as long as I've been involved with racing the Arc has always been the greatest race in the world. So the thought of trying to win an Arc or actually winning it is absolutely fantastic.

"I see the quotes today are 'highly likely' to run in the Arc but we mustn't get away from the fact that William's original plan was that if he stayed the mile and a quarter well – which he did at York – it was always going to lead on to the Champion [Stakes] at Ascot and that was it."

Angus Gold: with the late owner-breeder Hamdan Al MaktoumCredit: Edward Whitaker

The weather in the run-up to to the Arc – for which the son of Sea The Stars would need to be supplemented on Wednesday, September 28 – is likely to be at the forefront of the Baaeed team's mind.

"I don't want to sound cocky about this but he's probably the best horse around and he's proven he's stayed a mile and a quarter well," said Gold.

"Personally I don't think the distance is of concern. I think he'd stay and I think he's got the class to win it.

"But if we got three weeks of rain leading up to the race and it was going to be very heavy, perhaps with lots of runners and a chance he could get drawn 18 out of 20, the chances are he won't be in Paris."

Reflecting on the opposite scenario, Gold added: "I well remember we had one run in the Arc [Unfuwain] and Sheikh Hamdan made me walk the track because he wanted to pull the horse out if the ground was too quick, I think the year Mtoto was second. So you can get a dry autumn.

"But I'd hate people to think he's definitely going for the Arc and then him not to run, because that hasn't been decided."

Sakhee: bred by Sheikh Hamdan but enjoyed his most important victory in the Godolphin blueCredit: Edward Whitaker

While Sheikh Hamdan's homebred Sakhee won the Arc, he did so in the Godolphin silks after being transferred to the care of Saeed bin Suroor from John Dunlop.

The famous blue and white epaulettes of Shadwell have never been carried to victory, with the Marcus Tregoning-trained Mubtaker's second to Dalakhani in 2003 and Unfuwain's close-up fourth to Tony Bin in 1988 the operation's best results.

"It's very much Sheikha Hissa's decision, with her family and talking with William," said Gold, who dismissed any notion that failure to tackle the Arc would in any way dent Baaeed's legacy.

"If it stays dry and he remains in good form, there's a chance he will be in Paris," said Gold. "But it's only a chance and I'd hate people to think this was a definite decision.

"I think what he did at York shows he’s a great racehorse and obviously to win an Arc would be fantastic and it would be the icing on the cake. But he's no lesser horse if he doesn’t win the Arc."

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Longchamp, October 2)

bet365: 2 Baaeed, 6 Alpinista, Titleholder, 7 Torquator Tasso, 9 Vadeni, 12 Do Deuce, Onesto, 14 Pyledriver, 16 Al Hakeem, Luxembourg, 20 bar

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