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'He's a really exciting horse' - Angus Gold on Shadwell's latest star

Baaeed -Jim Crowley winsThe  Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes (Listed Race)Newmarket  8.7.21©mark cranhamphoto.com
Baaeed: commanding four-length winner of the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes on ThursdayCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Connections of the hugely exciting Baaeed are looking at the top mile races for the unbeaten colt after he won impressively for the third time at Newmarket last week.

The Shadwell Estates-owned three-year-old put in one of the most dazzling displays of the July festival with his commanding four-length success in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes.

Despite being bred to stay further, Baaeed showed he had the necessary speed to make a serious impact at a mile, something which pleasantly surprised Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold.


Watch Baaeed's imposing victory in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes


"He has a lovely mind and is a really exciting horse," he said. "I loved the way he travelled [at Newmarket] and it must mean he's a pretty decent horse.

"He's proved himself in that league and at the mile trip. He's a brother to Hukum and I thought he was going to be a mile-and-a-quarter horse all day long, and it's nice to see he has the class for the good races at a mile."


'He showed a great turn of foot' – William Haggas on brilliant Baaeed


Although Baaeed is likely to miss Glorious Goodwood, he could step up to Group 2 level in the Celebration Mile Stakes at that track on August 28.

"I've only briefly spoken to William [Haggas, trainer] to see what we do, but I think Goodwood will come too soon," said Gold. "We're not going to throw him straight in the Sussex and there's a Group 3 there, but he's had three races in a relatively short time.

"His options include races like the Celebration Mile or even the Jacques le Marois if we wanted to go straight in at the deep end, and looking towards Champions Day there's the QEII or the Champion if we do decide to go further."

Al Aasy (right) is beaten by Sir Ron Priestley in the Princess of Wales's Tattersalls Stakes
Al Aasy (right) is beaten by Sir Ron Priestley in the Princess of Wales's Tattersalls StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Shadwell, now under the leadership of Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum after the death of her father Sheikh Hamdan in March, appear likely to be without a runner in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes on July 24.

Al Aasy, a 14-1 chance for the Ascot race, failed to earn his place when beaten as the 1-2 favourite in Thursday's Princess of Wales's Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket.

"He's going to have a break and come back on softer ground in the autumn," said Gold. "His stride was shortening up the hill and I think William [Haggas] and Jim [Crowley, rider] feel the ground is probably quite important to him. We know he's won on soft ground and we'll freshen him up now."

'It was an extraordinary performance'

Hukum was taken out of the King George before winning Saturday's Group 3 John Smith's Silver Cup at York and could be tried overseas later in the season.

"He's a real solid horse who rarely runs a bad race," said Gold. "Although he stayed the trip at York [1m6f], they didn't go much pace, which probably helped, and I think a strongly run mile and a half is right up his street. We might look at the Canadian International, depending on the travel situation, with other targets here first."

Gold took great delight in seeing Motakhayyel romp home under Frankie Dettori to land back-to-back wins in the Bunbury Cup on Saturday.

"It was an extraordinary performance to win by three and a half lengths carrying top weight and he certainly deserves a tilt at another Group race," said Gold.

"The way he quickened, it was arguably his best ever run. He's such a lovely horse – a charming character and a gentle giant – and talented with it. He wouldn't have the action for Goodwood but there are races at places like Newbury."


Read more on the Newmarket July festival:

Five eyecatching performances to take from a brilliant Newmarket July festival

Native on the trail of fellow Godolphin stars after narrow Superlative success

Mark Johnston reveals Subjectivist injury after Sir Ron Priestley win


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Andrew DietzReporter

Published on 11 July 2021inNews

Last updated 15:33, 11 July 2021

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