Baaeed v Adayar: how do the Champion Stakes rivals compare?

All eyes are drawn to an epic Qipco British Champions Day clash at Ascot on Saturday – Baaeed v Adayar.

The unbeaten machine that is Baaeed goes up against arguably his toughest rival in the Qipco Champion Stakes (4.00), in which he bids to cap his sparkling career with another Group 1 and maintain a flawless CV with his 11th win.

Here, we have everything you need to know about the two Champion Stakes heavyweights . . .

Form

Baaeed: 1-1111

Having won all ten of his starts, the last six being in Group 1 company, Baaeed is the standout form pick. Arguably, his defeat of Palace Pier in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on this card last year bettered any of his mile performances this season. However, William Haggas was adamant that we wouldn't see the best version of Baaeed until he tackled further – and boy was he right!

It was an absolutely breathtaking performance in the Juddmonte International at York, with Baaeed cruising alongside Mishriff, before scorching clear by six and a half lengths – just the half-a-length less than Frankel's seven-length victory in 2012. The authority with which he dismissed a multiple Group 1 winner was frightening, and he will prove very hard to beat.

Adayar: 1145-1

Winning a Classic is no mean feat and Adayar's Derby win has been boosted multiple times by the second and third in Mojo Star and Hurricane Lane. The latter went on to win the Irish Derby, the Grand Prix de Paris and the St Leger, with Mojo Star again filling the runner-up position in the Doncaster Classic. The Derby second returned this season with a terrific run and came within half a length of Kyprios in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.

You have to be special to follow up a Derby win with victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and that's exactly what Adayar did, and was the first horse to do so since Galileo. He too had Mishriff in behind that day – not six and a half lengths behind, mind – but that is top form. He returned from a lengthy layoff with an easy victory at Doncaster, and connections opted for this race rather than the Arc. Adayar could prove to be the toughest rival Baaeed has faced.

Charlie Appleby and William Haggas: pair are fighting it out for the trainers' championship

Trainers

Although all the focus will be on the two star performers on the track, there is an interesting battle off it, with William Haggas and Charlie Appleby fighting it out for the trainers' championship. Appleby leads the way, but Haggas is just £80,000 behind and the £700,000 prize for winning the Champion Stakes is likely to play a big part in settling this, too.

Appleby opted for a conditions race for the belated return of Adayar and decided that this would be the right race to target rather than the Arc due to the ground conditions. It would have been quite easy for Appleby to avoid Baaeed, but the fact he is so willing to take him on suggests Adayar has back the spark that won him the Derby and King George.

Haggas was pressed to run Baaeed in the Arc and connections will be thankful for the omission after the conditions that were on offer at Longchamp. This had been the plan for Baaeed's swansong and the decision to step him up to a mile and quarter in the Juddmonte allowed us to see just how good he is. It would be a fitting way to end a fine career.

Jim Crowley celebrates Baaeed's victory in the Juddmonte International Stakes at YorkCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Jockeys

Jim Crowley described Baaeed as the "perfect racehorse" after his win at York and the jockey has every chance of recording his first success in the Champion Stakes aboard the four-year-old. Crowley has masterfully guided Baaeed to victory on his last eight starts and oozes confidence when he rides him. There is a lot of pressure on him to maintain Baaeed's flawless record, but that should disappear once the race starts and he's reminded of just how good the horse underneath him is.

Like Crowley, William Buick has never won the Champion Stakes and he will be hoping for an improved performance from Adayar after managing only fifth in this last year. He couldn't have a more in-form rider aboard him, however, with Buick set to be crowned champion jockey, having ridden more than 150 winners this year. Buick may not have picked him in the Derby, but he won the King George on him and will be hoping that Adayar can complete what is sure to be a day to remember for the jockey.

By the numbers

Age

Baaeed 4
Adayar 4

Career runs

Baaeed 10
Adayar 9

Career wins

Baaeed 10
Adayar 4

Top Racing Post Rating

Baaeed 138
Adayar 128

Career prize-money

Baaeed £2,622,282
Adayar £1,479,602

Group 1 wins

Baaeed 6
Adayar 2

Verdict

There is no doubt that Adayar is a class act; he may not have been first choice in the Derby but he proved he should have been when winning the King George. He will provide Baaeed with the sternest test he has faced in his ten starts, but he looks bulletproof, having already won two Group 1s at Ascot while there is no telling how much scope he has over this mile-and-a-quarter trip. It's a shame this will be the last time we see him on a racecourse, but we could witness a performance that will go down in the history books.

Qipco Champion Stakes (Ascot, 4.00 Saturday)

bet365: 1-4 Baaeed, 7-2 Adayar, 10-1 Bay Bridge, 16 Royal Champion, 20 Dubai Honour, My Prospero, 50 Mac Swiney, Stone Age, 80 Helvic Dream, High Definition

2022 Champions Day offers

• Paddy Power are giving away free bets to new and existing customers, and all you need is an account. Sign up here.
• Sky Bet are offering new customers free bets when they sign up. You can get them, along with money-back specials and extra places, here.
• Betfair have lots of offers, extra places and money-back offers. Sign up for a new account here.
• To get a free bet from Ladbrokes today, simply sign up to a new account here.
• Don't have a Coral account? They have an offer for new customers here.
• bet365 have a new customer offer available. Sign up here.
• New William Hill customers can claim free bets here and benefit from their money-back offers here.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim.

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