Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Baaeed downs Palace Pier in QEII classic to remain unbeaten

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Baaeed beat Palace Pier in a thrilling Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot to maintain his unbeaten record.

Billed as one of the most exciting head-to-heads of the season, Shadwell’s exciting three-year-old under Jim Crowley took it up to Frankie Dettori on John Gosden’s Queen Anne Stakes winner and had to come wide as they turned for home.

The William Haggas-trained 2/1 chance stuck on strongly to hold off the ever-present challenge of Palace Pier.

Having claimed his first Group One success in the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp last month, Baaeed returned to home soil to make it six wins out of six in his career.

Popular mare Lady Bowthorpe produced a valiant performance to finish third at 40/1 for Kieran Shoemark and William Jarvis.

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Jim Crowley had a double at Ascot on Champions Day as Eshaada (near side) won the Fillies & Mares Stakes

Reflecting on Baaeed’s victory, Crowley – who enjoyed a Champions Day double after winning on Eshaada in the Fillies & Mares Stakes – said: “He just keeps on getting better.

“The ground was just a bit slow for him, I think on quicker ground he’d have picked up a bit better, he was a little bit laboured.

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“He’s come a long way in a short space of time and he’s a proper champion.”