'He could be as short as Frankel' - no Arc for Champion Stakes-bound Baaeed

Baaeed, who has spent much of 2022 being compared to Frankel, will end his career in the same race as Sir Henry Cecil's phenomenon – and one bookmaker forecasts he could be sent off at similarly prohibitive odds.

Unbeaten in ten starts and awesome when last seen in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, Baaeed had been a possible runner in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 2, but connections – led by trainer William Haggas and owner Sheikha Hissa Al Maktoum – have decided his final run before stud will be at Ascot two weeks later in the Qipco Champion Stakes, which Frankel won in 2012 before he retired.

Frankel went off a 2-11 chance for the Champion Stakes and Baaeed, who has mirrored his farewell four-year-old campaign by winning the Lockinge, Queen Anne, Sussex Stakes and International, is 1-3 with Coral to sign off in style, although that price could contract.

Coral's David Stevens said: "Baaeed appears to have the Champion Stakes at his mercy and, depending on the opposition, his starting price could be somewhere close to the 2-11 Frankel was sent off."

Coral make Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes hero Luxembourg their 4-1 Arc favourite following Wednesday's news.

Ricky Hall puts Baaeed through his paces in Newmarket on Wednesday morningCredit: Edward Whitaker

Baaeed had been 9-4 with Coral for the Paris championship, but needed to be supplemented, which would have cost Sheikha Hissa and the Shadwell operation founded by her late father Hamdan Al Maktoum €120,000.

Haggas, who has done little all year to hide the fact Ascot was his preferred destination, watched his stable star exercise on Wednesday morning under regular rider Ricky Hall.

The Newmarket trainer told the Racing Post: "After much consultation with Sheikha Hissa and her team we have decided that Baaeed's final start will be in the Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 15.

"He was very impressive in the Juddmonte International and it was only right that we explored every option. I, in particular, was keen to keep him to a mile and a quarter, therefore the Champion Stakes was the only logical solution."

Haggas, who is chasing a first training title and trailed Charlie Appleby by just over £14,000 at the start of racing on Wednesday, added: "I understand many will be disappointed he's not running in the Arc but we can't do both and Ascot it will be."

Shadwell's number one jockey Jim Crowley did not ride Baaeed on his first two starts when he recorded easy victories at Leicester and Newmarket under Dane O'Neill, but has been aboard the colt ever since.

William Haggas admires Baaeed in the presence of Sheikha HissaCredit: Edward Whitaker

He backed the decision, arguing the unknown trip of a mile and a half on potentially gruelling ground would not suit the son of Sea The Stars, who won an epic Arc in 2009.

"William asked me about it. As a jockey, you would love to win the Arc, but is that right by the horse?" Crowley said.

"I appreciate and agree that the right thing is to go to Ascot. If he went to the Arc, you're supplementing the horse and he wouldn't want a mile and a half on testing ground. In the past ten years, six times it's been on testing ground. It's like people want him to get beat.

"I'd love to see him win the Arc. It would be fantastic but it makes sense to go to Ascot. Wherever he goes, I'll never find another one like him. He's a superstar."

Richard Hills, once the Shadwell operation's retained rider and now part of the management team, also supported heading to Ascot, which he believes will be a fitting send-off for the colt, whose family hail from Height Of Fashion, a filly bred and raced by the Queen.

"Willam spoke to Sheikha Hissa last night about Baaeed," Hills said. "He's done such a great job with him and it was their decision to go to Ascot and I fully support it. I'm looking forward to it and it will be great to finish in England. Champions Day will be a proper day.

"And if people want to see him before that they can come along to the Newmarket open day on Sunday from 8am."

Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (October 2, Longchamp)

Coral: 4 Luxembourg, 5 Alpinista, 8 Titleholder, Torquator Tasso, 9 Onesto, 14 Adayar, 16 La Parisienne, Westover, 20 Al Hakeem, Do Deuce, 25 bar

Qipco Champion Stakes (October 15, Ascot)

Coral: 1-3 Baaeed, 5 Vadeni, 6 Adayar, Luxembourg, 8 Nashwa, Onesto, 10 Bay Bridge, 12 Erevann, Mishriff, 14 Dubai Honour, La Petite Coco, Lord North, Maljoom, Sealiway, 16 bar

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