'Wow!' - Baaeed hailed after 'murdering' Juddmonte International field

Baaeed's stunning success in Wednesday's Juddmonte International at York had onlookers drooling and they included former top jockey Johnny Murtagh, who labelled his six-and-half-length destruction of the classy Mishriff as the "wow performance the sport had been waiting for".

Unbeaten in nine, but never tried over further than a mile, Baaeed went off the red-hot 2-5 favourite and gave his supporters hardly any worries when romping home.

"Look at the brilliance of Baaeed, soak it up and enjoy – he is a fantastic racehorse," ITV commentator Richard Hoiles purred moments after Jim Crowley's mount had flashed by the winning line.

Baaeed: 'That's the performance we've been waiting to see from him' – Johnny MurtaghCredit: Edward Whitaker

Equally impressed was ITV colleague Murtagh, now a Group 1-winning trainer having been a world-class jockey who won the Derby three times and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe once.

"What a performance," said Murtagh, whose countless Group 1 wins in the saddle included two in the race he had just seen Baaeed dominate.

"That's the performance we've been waiting to see from him. We heard how good he is and we knew how good he was, but he had to do it on the track and going a mile and a quarter was made for him today.

"You saw how he travelled into the race and that's what good horses do, he went down to the furlong pole on the bridle, was given the office to go and quickened up. He blitzed horses rated in the 120s and that's what he needed to do. This was a wow performance.

"Now you can start making the comparisons to the two greats – Frankel and Sea The Stars – because we have seen it on the track."

'That was what we wanted'

Baaeed had been flawless over a mile, but rarely flamboyant.

Brough Scott, the author and broadcaster regarded as an authority on all things racing, was also part of ITV's coverage and said: "That was what we wanted – it was the best performance of the season and everyone was clapping as he went by the post. You suddenly got lit up and that's what racing longs for. I think he's better at a mile and a quarter – he's murdered them.

"I think Frankel's performance was the best in this race, but that is very close to it."

Classic-winning jockey Jason Weaver, a mainstay of the network, added: "I was frightened as Jim was just taking him back and being patient and confident. I wondered if he'd find. It's so hard not to do anything and then push the button, but it was control, power, domination and so much ability."

Watch a replay of the brilliant Baaeed

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