#UK RACING: BRILLIANT BAAEED EASILY TAKES THE QUEEN STAKES

Baaeed ensured Royal Ascot 2022 started with a bang as he produced another dominant display in the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes.

Unbeaten in seven previous starts and so impressive on his seasonal reappearance in the Lockinge at Newbury last month, the William Haggas-trained four-year-old was sent off the 1-6 favourite 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 the Group One contest as he kicked comfortably clear.

Baaeed only had to be pushed out hands and heels in the closing stages to score by a length and three-quarters, with the front-running Real World a clear second, just as he was in the Lockinge.

Crowley said: “It doesn't get any easier than that. Everything went smoothly. Baaeed got a lovely tow into the race, the ground is beautiful, and I just let him stretch out for the last furlong of the race. It was like clockwork.

“There is a big crowd here today and he is just so relaxed. He has a great mind. Real World stays further and I thought they would go forward. I had a nice bit of cover and could go when I wanted to go. It was just the perfect race really.

“When he moved up at the two-pole, there was never any doubt. I was always pretty confident. He’s a very easy ride and I’m not tied down to riding him a certain way – he’s got a great temperament.

“It's the pinnacle. You spend your whole life waiting for a horse like this to come along. Everyone says to enjoy it, but there is a lot of pressure. But I love it and I enjoy it. It's why we do it.

“Sheikh Hamdan would be looking down smiling and I'm so pleased that Sheikha Hissa is here today. William and Maureen Haggas have done an unbelievable job with him and it is a pleasure to get on him and do the steering.

“Baaeed will have sterner tests ahead, we know that. He is just doing everything perfectly at the moment. He gallops out very well over a mile and has a serious turn of foot over a mile – it's unnatural really. I don't see 10 furlongs being a problem.

“This horse is a superstar. I’m sure we’ll keep testing him, but I’m pretty sure he’ll keep finding. You wait a lifetime for a horse to come along like this. The only way I can explain the feeling is when you go to the funfair and you’re waiting in the queue for a fast ride, that’s the feeling before you get on him. Once you’re on him and away it’s great – I really enjoy it. He’s a pleasure to ride.”

Haggas said: "He won nicely, he didn't really do a lot really. I'll have to watch it again.

"He looked like he tracked the right horse, the other horse ran well actually, but I don't think he was extended fully.

"You can't learn anything from that, he travels well and settles well and that's pretty important if you're going up in trip.

"I'll speak to Sheikha Hissa and Angus (Gold, racing manager), but I think we are all keen to give it (stepping up in trip) a go and that will be at York and there's potentially Goodwood (Sussex Stakes) in the meantime.

"He's obviously a good miler and he's bred to get further so I think we'd like to try and I think it would be remiss of us not too. It would be the easy option to stay at a mile."

aeed bin Suroor said of Real World: “Baaeed is different class, it is the same result as at Newbury in the Lockinge. Real World ran well, he was just beaten by a better horse. He is getting closer, but not close enough!