By Tom Frary
Despite the exploits of Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), there is still room at the top in the 3-year-old miling division and Thursday's Listed Sir Henry Cecil S. played host to one who is within touching distance of that elite performer in Shadwell's unbeaten Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}). With the G1 St James's Palace S. fourth Maximal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the G1 2000 Guineas sixth One Ruler (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the line-up, this was a proper test for the full-brother to last year's G3 Geoffrey Freer S. winner Hukum (Ire) but the money was talking as he was forced into 10-11 favouritism. Anchored in rear of the classy five-runner field by a confident Jim Crowley throughout the early stages as another St James's Palace also-ran in Naamoos (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) set the pace, the William Haggas-trained homebred was eased by his peers heading to two out and after striking the front heading down into the “dip” powered clear for an emphatic four-length success without being asked a serious question. Maximal, who had been five lengths behind Poetic Flare at Royal Ascot, was second 1 1/4 lengths ahead of One Ruler, who had finished under five lengths behind the Bolger star in the Rowley Mile Classic.
After coming from way back to win on debut at Leicester June 7, Baaeed had showed the benefit of that experience to follow up in a more professional manner by 7 1/2 lengths in a novice over this course and distance 12 days later. Nobody's secret entering this examination, he was setting trainer William Haggas a quandary with his latest command performance. “People had told me after his second run that he was a good horse, so I ran him to see if he is and he looks it now,” he said. “He showed a good turn of foot and is quicker than his brother, who's a good horse but is a mile and a half horse. He is an exciting horse I think. His pedigree suggests that a mile and a quarter is what he wants, but the style of his racing doesn't say that. We will see. I don't think there is any hurry to step him up in trip at the moment. I thought it was a really good listed contest. For him to do that, come from the back and show a smart turn of foot is a good sign.”
“He has had three quite quick races, so I don't know what we do next,” Haggas continued. “The obvious race is the group 3 at Goodwood [the July 30 Thoroughbred S.], but that would be four races in two months and he's a young horse with his career in front of him. I don't want to milk him too early and we need to space his races out, with probably three more max this year. He needs to be looked after if he is to have a good 4-year-old career but he'll get entries in every smart race from now on.”
Jockey Jim Crowley added, “He has given me a very good feel. He has obviously progressed from his last run, but that is the first time I've ridden the horse and I was very impressed with him. He put the race to bed very quickly and he did everything right. This lad has more speed than Hukum, who is a very good horse. I would imagine he will be kept at a mile for now while he is winning races like that, but he will get further. He is well-bred and physically a nice horse, so hopefully he can keep going.”
The Listed Prix de Liancourt-winning dam Aghareed (Kingmambo) is proving a notable broodmare for the operation, with the aforementioned Hukum also successful in the Listed Tapster S. and third in the G2 Hardwicke S. this term and proving to be not far off the best middle-distance horses around. Aghareed, who has the unraced 2-year-old filly Zaghaareed (GB) (Intello {Ger}) and a yearling colt by Nathaniel (Ire) to come, was the only black-type performer out of the talented Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}). She also took the Prix de Liancourt, but later achieved worldwide notoriety when capturing the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and GI Flower Bowl Invitational.
Thursday, Newmarket, Britain
EDMONDSON HALL SOLICITORS SIR HENRY CECIL S.-Listed, £52,000, Newmarket, 7-8, 3yo, 8fT, 1:36.95, g/f.
1–BAAEED (GB), 129, c, 3, by Sea the Stars (Ire)
1st Dam: Aghareed (SW-Fr), by Kingmambo
2nd Dam: Lahudood (GB), by Singspiel (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rahayeb (GB), by Arazi
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (GB); T-William Haggas; J-Jim Crowley. £29,489. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $54,322. *Full to Hukum (IRE), GSW-Eng, $161,874.
2–Maximal (GB), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Joyeuse (GB), by Oasis Dream (GB). O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £11,180.
3–One Ruler (Ire), 129, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Fintry (Ire), by Shamardal. O-Godolphin; B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby. £5,595.
Margins: 4, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.91, 3.00, 4.50.
Also Ran: Legion of Honour (GB), Naamoos (Fr). Scratched: Derab (GB). Click for the Racing Post result.
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