Baaeed Remains Undefeated After Prix du Moulin Victory

There have been very few horses in recent years able to land a group 1 and be quite as calm as Baaeed  when they returned to ParisLongchamp's winner's circle: think Kingman  and before him Baaeed's own sire, Sea The Stars .

It is a rare quality and might be the key to this colt repeating this first visit to the top table at regular intervals in the future.

Certainly Maureen Haggas—wife, assistant, and a key part of the brains trust at Somerville Lodge—liked what she saw in the immediate aftermath of the Sept. 5 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) every bit as much as what had unfolded on the track moments earlier, when Baaeed worked his way past Order of Australia  to score by a length and a quarter with a neck back to another solid group 1 yardstick in Victor Ludorum .

"He's still got those old ears stuck forward so I don't think he was flat out," said Haggas.

If Jim Crowley's plan A had been to get his inexperienced partner settled in behind horses it was not helped when the only guaranteed pace in the race, German-trained filly Novemba , missed the break only then to be rushed up on Baaeed's outer.

"When the German horse came past him it lit him up a bit and because of where he was drawn he didn't have any proper cover," said Haggas. "He was just a bit fresh and enthusiastic, but he won nicely. He's got in a bit of a fight today which he hasn't had to before. It's all part of the learning process."

Such had been Baaeed's reputation ahead of his first group 1 assignment that bookmakers had left themselves little wiggle room when it came to his next likely target, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (G1) on QIPCO British Champions Day next month.

Baaeed now tops the market at 7-4 (from 11-4) with Coral for the Ascot group 1, where he could potentially clash with superstar milers Palace Pier  and Poetic Flare .

There was a difference of opinion as to how well the Shadwell homebred might handle conditions if Ascot catches as much rain as has been the case for Champions Day.

Haggas said: "I don't think we'd want to be running him on really deep ground, although it was on the slow side when he won at Goodwood. He's in the QEII at Ascot and I suppose that's the obvious target at the moment, but if it went very heavy like it sometimes can do, we'd probably think again.

"He's not done much wrong this year so if he didn't run again it wouldn't be the end of the world. If he stays in good form and the ground stays how he likes it then I'm sure we'd have another go."

Crowley was less concerned about Baaeed's ability to cope with autumn ground and believes there should be more to come.

"I wouldn't worry, he ran on good to soft before," he said. "At Goodwood it was on the slower side and I think, as he stays the mile very well, if it came up soft over a mile I wouldn't be concerned."

It might then be a matter of degrees as to how deep it gets before running becomes an issue or not. But Crowley echoed the impressions of those watching on in terms of what Baaeed had achieved.

"His races have been very easy back home and this was his first step up into group 1 company," he said. "It was the fifth run of his life and for me he's still learning. I thought he did very well because the pacemaker missed it and then chased it. He didn't have any cover, but he relaxed OK and he picked up well.

"When he hit the front he was just idling a bit, he was pricking his ears. But it was a good performance and I hope he keeps progressing. I think he will."

Crowley added: "It's lovely for everybody: for Sheikha Hissa, Sheikh Hamdan's daughter, and for everyone at Shadwell."

Among the beaten, there will have been satisfaction for connections of the two placed horses who may have faced a near-impossible task at the weights.

Aidan O'Brien gave the clearest sign yet that the main priority for his runner-up, Order of Australia, will be the defense of his FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) crown at Del Mar, with a return to the venue of that grade 1 triumph, Keeneland, next on the cards on Oct. 9.

"He ran very well, we're very happy," said O'Brien. "We might have a look at the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1T) next in four or five weeks. That will hopefully be where he goes next."

The other British-trained hope, Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1) winner Snow Lantern , once again found herself trapped inside runners at a crucial juncture of the race, but her trainer Richard Hannon and the Rockliffe Stud team may give serious consideration as to whether now might be the time to up their filly to 10 furlongs. The filly finished fourth in her first French venture.