Baaeed (1/6 favourite) beat Real World and Order Of Australia to win Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot; watch every race from Royal Ascot live on Sky Sports Racing from Tuesday, June 14 to Saturday, June 18
Tuesday 14 June 2022 19:28, UK
"Superstar" Baaeed kicked Royal Ascot 2022 off with a bang, extending his unbeaten career record to eight with a stylish victory in the Queen Anne Stakes.
William Haggas' Lockinge winner was the star attraction on day one of the five-day meeting and set off as 1/6 favourite to win the opening contest under Jim Crowley.
Always travelling powerfully over the straight mile, the Sea The Stars colt quickened smartly two furlongs out and soon stamped his authority on his rivals as he kicked comfortably clear.
The four-year-old only had to be given the lightest encouragement under Crowley to stretch away and score by a length-and-three-quarters, with the front-running Real World a clear second, just as he was in the Lockinge.
Aidan O'Brien's Order Of Australia came home third, ahead of Chindit and Sir Busker.
A relieves Haggas told Sky Sports Racing: "Relief is very much the appropriate word. He won nicely enough so everything is still exciting.
"I was a little bit tense, pacing around a bit and I'd done 6,000 steps before 6am this morning! It's been a long day. Now it's more relaxing.
"It's a fair team effort, we have lots of people behind the scenes."
Baaeed's next test could see him step up to a mile-and-a-quarter in the Juddmonte International at York, a challenge which is very much tempting his trainer.
"The two next races for him are either the Sussex over a mile, the Juddmonte over a mile-and-a-quarter or both," Haggas said. "I'd love to have a shot at the Juddmonte at some stage and I hope everyone agrees with that.
"It would add another string to his bow if he can step up."
Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Crowley said: "That was very special. Everything went smoothly and he got a nice tow into the race.
"There's a big crowd here today and he's so relaxed. A joy to ride. It was basically just the perfect race for him.
"He's going to have sterner tests ahead but he's just doing everything perfectly at the moment.
"I don't see 10 [furlongs] being a problem. He's got a serious turn of foot over a mile, it's unnatural really for a horse with that pedigree. They'll probably step him up now for the Juddmonte."
Bin Suroor was hugely proud of his horse, adding: "Baaeed is a very stylish horse and wherever you go you have to take that chance.
"Baaeed finished that easily but our horse gave it a good try. I think [Real World] is a mile-and-a-quarter horse so the next target could be the Coral-Eclipse or the Juddmonte at York.
"Horseracing needs superstars like Baaeed. He is one of the best, like Frankel."
