Brilliant Baaeed continues unbeaten run with Sussex Stakes win

Baaeed cemented his position as the world’s highest-rated racehorse with a dominant length and three-quarter success in the Group Qatar Sussex Stakes, handing trainer William Haggas a first win in the mile highlight.

Sent off the 1/6 favourite, Baaeed was shaken up by Jim Crowley to lead inside the final furlong and pulled away from Classic winner Modern Games (12/1) and last year’s winner Alcohol Free (11/1) in authoritative fashion.

This success takes Baaeed’s career record to a remarkable nine wins from nine starts and prize money earnings through the £2 million barrier. The four-year-old is now set to step beyond a mile for the first time in next month’s G1 Juddmonte International at York.

Haggas said: “I am relieved it’s over. Baaeed is such a nice horse. It is a great occasion and I said to Sheikha Hissa beforehand that the only time I’ve been photographed as much was when I walked into the paddock at Meydan and shook hands with her father [Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum] and about 50 people took my photo. I can’t tell you how sad it is for all of us that Sheikh Hamdan is not here to witness it. He did everything for days like this and he would have loved it.”

Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum, daughter of the late Hamdan Al Maktoum, said: “For me and my family, Baaeed means the world. He is a homebred and from the same family of Nashwan and the whole lineage. It’s good to see one of our best horses coming from the family that my father worked so hard on.

“He is a pleasure to have. He loves to work in the morning and it’s nice to see horses from a horse person’s perspective that they enjoy their job. Whenever I’m here, I love to come and see the horses. I was very happy to be here. When I came yesterday, I thought Baaeed was going to like it and he did well in the Group Three here last year [Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes]. “I am very excited to see him at York. After Royal Ascot we thought he was ready for a mile and a quarter. I am wearing a badge with my father on. He comes everywhere with me.”

The next stop for Baaeed will be the Juddmonte International at York followed by the QIPCO Champion Stakes at QIPCO British Champions Day on Friday 15 October. You can secure your tickets to see the world’s best racehorse here.