Baaeed's Unbeaten Record Ended by Bay Bridge

Baaeed  lost his unbeaten record on his final start Oct. 15 when finishing only fourth behind Bay Bridge  in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1).

Representing Sir Michael Stoute and Richard Kingscote, Bay Bridge caused a huge surprise in the £1.3 million contest as 1-4 favorite Baaeed, chasing his 11th straight success, failed to fire.

Off the track since finishing fifth of six in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (G1) in July, the 10-1 winner toughed it out to get the better of Adayar , with My Prospero  finishing a place in front of William Haggas-trained stablemate Baaeed.

Baaeed broke a touch slowly from stall 1 and was held up by Jim Crowley as Stone Age  set a steady pace. Crowley tracked William Buick on Adayar, with the champion jockey making his move on the turn for home.

Baaeed had to come wide into the straight and although he moved into contention, he did not pick up in his customary fashion on ground described as good to soft, soft in places.

In the meantime, Kingscote enjoyed a smooth passage after cornering on the inside and Bay Bridge kept on strongly to hold off the challenge of Adayar to score by half a length.

"We came here knowing we had a nice horse but taking on one of the best around. You can't be afraid of one horse and that's why," Kingscote said on ITV Racing. "It's perfect to ride beautiful horses like this, they've always liked him back home and he looked like he had a big one in him and on that ground he showed he's a really lovely animal.

"He was a bit fresh and ran with enthusiasm in the first three quarters but he was going so well on the turn and he responded by knuckling down really well when William came to us."

Crowley has been on an amazing journey with Baaeed and was disappointed the six-time group 1 winner could not sign off with a perfect record.

"It was just ground—as simple as that," he said. "I turned into the straight and normally where he would pick up that kick that's normally there, wasn't there. It was heavy weather really. I knew as soon as I went for him, every time I've gone for him in the past it's been instant, but it just wasn't there.

"It's been unbelievable, he's a very special horse. It's sad that he hasn't finished his career unbeaten as he's come so far. He's captured the imagination and I'm sorry for everyone he couldn't do it today, but he's still a special horse."

Baaeed's defeat was a major blow to Haggas's title chances, with Charlie Appleby extending his lead courtesy of Adayar's second place finish.

Although not the end he wanted, Haggas was left to reflect on the legacy of the greatest horse he has trained.

"He got beat in a horse race but that doesn't take away from the fact that he's a high-class horse," he said.

"It shows that people come racing to see the good ones and I think a lot of people wanted to see him win. A lot of people will be very disappointed, nobody more so than us, but that's the way it is. On the bright side, the horse who finished third ran a mighty race. Maybe next year he can have a good season."