Will it be 11 and out or can 'incredible' Baaeed's retirement party be spoiled?

Saturday: 4.00 Ascot
Qipco Champion Stakes (British Champions Middle Distance) (Group 1) | 1m2f | 3yo+ | ITV/Sky

Baaeed completed his preparation for his bid to go out undefeated at Ascot – just as his predecessor Frankel did ten years ago – with one easy canter behind his lead horse on Warren Hill on Friday morning.

His rider and groom Ricky Hall reported the four-year-old to be "really good" on walking back to the yard where three or four photographers lined his route.

William Haggas was joined by some of the owners of star Aussie mare Verry Elleegant to watch the final workout and they were not disappointed.

Frankel himself drew fans from as far away as Australia in 2012, which was a factor in the decision to let him take his chance on ground that was close to having the meeting abandoned.

Ten years on, thankfully Baaeed won't have such a surface to contend with and connections are happy with his draw in his bid for an 11th straight win.

Baaeed follows his lead horse Montatham on Warren Hill on Friday morning

Richard Hills, assistant racing manager to Shadwell Estate, said: "Baaeed has a great draw in stall one and Jim Crowley knows him well so I would imagine he'll ride him like he did at York and put him to sleep early and then get him into contention in the straight.

"He's won on soft ground so it won't inconvenience him as it may do others and he's in great form going into the race.

"He sailed through his final bit of work on the Al Bahathri on Monday morning when everyone was happy with him. Everyone at Shadwell are looking forward to the day and hopefully he can take his unbeaten record into retirement."

Hills was lucky enough to be at the controls of the four-year-old in a recent piece of work on the Limekilns.

He said: "It was incredible. Make no mistake, Baaeed is a quick horse and when I went for him his turn of foot was amazing. I've ridden plenty of smart horses in the mornings during my time, but not many do it in the afternoons like him."

Charlie Appleby: 'It's good for racing to see two good horses take each other on'

Charlie Appleby deliberately avoided a second crack at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with his Derby and King George winner Adayar owing to the prospect of a testing surface, and he looks well placed to better his fifth in this a year ago.

The son of Frankel scored on his delayed reappearance in a conditions race at Doncaster last month and is a fresher horse than most.

Appleby said: "Adayar is in great shape. We went to Doncaster for a conditions race and we knew that it was never going to be like the field he will meet on Saturday, but he couldn't have done it any easier. Most importantly, we got what we wanted out of it – he got all of his confidence back and didn't have a hard race.

"We all know that Baaeed is going to be a huge challenge for him and a huge task, but we couldn't be any happier with our horse. We have seen what Adayar can do – he is a Derby and King George winner and looks in great shape."

On the big clash, he added: "We are excited and it's good for racing to see two good horses take each other on, although they are not the only ones in the race and you can make cases for others. It's a great race collectively, but Adayar taking on the great unbeaten Baaeed is exciting.

"Can we beat him? We are going there a fresher horse this year in conditions we are quite relaxed about. It's going to be a fantastic race and hopefully one that will go down in the history books as being one of the great races we have seen over the past few years."

What they say

Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Bay Bridge
It's a tough race against a worldbeater and last year's Derby winner, but it's the Champion Stakes so it's entitled to be. After the Eclipse we had a hiccup with a foot problem, but he's fine again now and we are looking forward to it.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to Mohamed Obaida, owner of Dubai Honour
He loves soft ground and grows another leg when it rains, but it depends how soft it is going to be. He's been working extremely well in the last week or so and I think he'll run a nice race. Whether he's up to Baaeed's level is another matter, but he deserves to be there.

Tom Marquand, rider of My Prospero
It's obviously an extremely tough race with Baaeed in there. He has form at the track having finished third in the St James's Palace Stakes and he looks a mile-and-a-quarter horse all over having won on his first go at the trip in France last time. I'm looking forward to riding him again.

Jack Mitchell, rider of Royal Champion
He won the Doonside Cup very well against inferior opposition when he quickened up the best he's ever quickened up. He's in great form going into the race and if he could nick a place it would be amazing

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Stone Age
We were delighted with him at Leopardstown. He ran a big race there and has been in good form since then. Everything has gone well with him since and we're looking forward to it.

All to play for in trainers' championship

The trainers' championship runs until the end of the calendar year, but the results on Champions Day may prove decisive in the outcome, with Charlie Appleby and William Haggas both sending strong teams to Ascot.

Haggas trailed last year's champion by less than £80,000 on Friday and his star player is Baaeed, who bids to extend his unbeaten record when lining up in the Champion Stakes, worth over £737,000 to the winner. He also has a solid chance with Sea La Rosa in the Fillies and Mares Stakes (2.40).

Appleby will hope Adayar can spoil the party for Baaeed in the Champion, but he has other chances to extend his advantage with the likes of Eternal Pearl, Modern Games and Creative Force, last year's winner and the likely short-priced favourite for the Champions Sprint (2.00).

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Champions Day previews:

1.25 Ascot: Can Trueshan recapture his best in a stellar running of the Long Distance Cup?

2.00 Ascot: 'He’s the one they’ve got to beat' - Appleby confident as top sprinters clash

2.40 Ascot: Can Oaks runner-up Emily Upjohn bounce back from King George flop?

3.20 Ascot: 'The small field makes it trappier' - John Gosden on hot QEII favourite Inspiral

4.40 Ascot: 'He leads Baaeed every day'- who has had the ideal Balmoral prep?

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