Shadwell Superstar Baaeed leads Juddmonte International entries

Baaeed is on course to take his place in next Wednesday’s Juddmonte International Stakes at York after he was one of eight entries to stand their ground at today’s confirmation stage.

Taken from York Racecourse press release, 11th August 2022:

The unbeaten superstar who carries the famous Shadwell colours, is nine from nine ahead of York’s £1 million Group 1, which forms part of the QIPCO British Champions Series. Next week’s engagement will see the four-year-old Sea The Stars colt step up to an extended mile and a quarter distance for the first time.

Trainer William Haggas said: “I think he’ll stay it, no problem. Whether he’s better, I don’t know. We planned to go to the Juddmonte very early on. A four-year-old miler of his quality, the programme is very straightforward in the early part of the season. It’s Lockinge, Queen Anne, and then the Sussex.

“And then it’s sort of do you go for the Moulin or the Jacques Le Marois or do you go up in trip? We put him in the Irish Champion just in case he needed more time between the Sussex and the Juddmonte. And I’m pleased to say everything is on schedule to go on next Wednesday.

“He’s had lots of publicity recently. He’s had lots of cameras this week and he takes it in his stride, much better than his trainer! He’s got a good temperament. Most of the good ones are a bit tricky. He’s just a nice person to have around.”

The new distance for Baaeed will bring in fresh rivals to test him and his jockey Jim Crowley. But Haggas is positive about his stable representative’s prospects of performing well on the long home straight of the Knavesmire. He added: “It feels right to me. You’d think that he can just sit and wait and let it all unfold and then if his turn of foot is there…

“I think Jim has a lot of confidence in the horse and trusts the horse to quicken. It’s really exciting; it’s strange to talk about it because he just does it and he’s done it every single time.”

Newmarket-based Haggas hails from Yorkshire and loves to have winners at the Sky Bet Ebor Festival.  But he said: “Everyone makes a big deal of me wanting to win at York – I want to win everywhere.

“We beat the prize money drum the whole time and York are actually fantastic at putting their hand in their pocket. Every race is valuable in its own right and the Juddmonte is the £1million race at the Ebor Festival. So,  of course we want to win it.”

Haggas could be triple-handed in the race with last year’s Juddmonte International Stakes runner-up, Alenquer, and July’s Group 2 York Stakes second. Dubai Honour, also standing their ground at the confirmation stage today. Haggas said: “Dubai Honour wants slow ground. If it’s good or good to soft he’ll run and so will Alenquer. That’s against Baaeed.”

Other potential opponents include Point Lonsdale and High Definition represent Coolmore from the yard of Aidan O’Brien, as well as defending champion, Mishriff trained by John & Thady Gosden.  Another who is due at York is classic winner, Native Trail (Oasis Dream), successful in the Irish 2,000 Guineas in the blue of Godolphin, handled by Charlie Appleby. The impressive line up is completed by Sir Busker, who won over course and distance in July in the Gr.2 York Stakes for the Kennet Valley Thoroughbred team and trainer, William Knight.