Royal Ascot 2022 opens in glorious fashion when the brilliant miler Baaeed, widely recognized as the best horse in the world, takes on six rivals in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, which resumes its traditional spot as the meeting's curtain raiser after two years disrupted by Covid.
The Queen Anne is one of three Group 1s to be run on a star-studded opening day. It is the first of eight Group 1s this week which are part of the QIPCO British Champions Series, and on the tenth anniversary of Frankel's spellbinding 11-length win here it is fitting that the race has attracted a colt who is already being talked about as the best horse we have seen since then.
Direct comparisons between the pair are premature, and while Baaeed was officially recognized last week by a team of international handicappers as the world number one he is still not yet in the same parish as QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Famer Frankel.
However, he has so far carried all before him and trainer William Haggas is pleased to have an opportunity to race him on fast ground for the first time since his impressive win at Newmarket last July. If the quicker going contributes to a wider margin win than in last month's Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes, which was his third successive Group 1, he can close the gap a little.
Haggas, who reports no negatives since Newbury, said: “I've always thought he would enjoy racing on a faster surface than he was getting last year, and he's in good form. His new position in the rankings is a bigger deal for the press than it is for me, but he's obviously good.”
Jockey Jim Crowley, who enjoyed a sensational six wins at Royal Ascot win two years ago, does not disagree about the ground. He said: “I wouldn't be too concerned about any ground except extremes, and the clerk of the course Chris Stickels always does a beautiful job at Ascot, but there's no question Baaeed was very good when he last had the opportunity to race on quick ground at Newmarket last year.”
He added: “I haven't sat on him since Newbury, but Michael Hills rides him in all his work and seems very happy with him. I like to play things down a bit, but then Richard Hills was on the front page of the Racing Post saying he was the banker of the week!”
Real World had a rear view of Baaeed in the Lockinge Stakes, but he kept on well to keep the margin down to little more than three lengths. There were two top Group 1-winning fillies behind, so it was a decent effort by any measure.
Saeed Bin Suroor does not underestimate the task his five-year-old will face if he is to turn the tables on Baaeed, who he describes as “a superstar”, but he believes it is not impossible.
He said: “Real World came back good from the Lockinge and he went well when he did his last piece of work on Thursday. He won over the straight mile at Royal Ascot last year, and while that was a handicap and this is a Group 1 he has done well since and won Group 2s in France and Dubai.
“He will probably be chasing Baaeed again, as Baaeed is a superstar, but Real World gets further, so a strong pace would suit him and he's improving all of the time, so I'm not without hope. I'm very happy with him.”
Richard Hannon offers no excuse for Chindit in the Lockinge, where his third was probably a career best, and he acknowledges the colt has to run the race of his life to get near Baaeed. However, he points out that the four-year-old has already won a Group 3 and a Group 2 and so there is really nowhere else to go but for a Group 1, and he believes there is “a massive day in him” some time.
The 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile winner Order Of Australia finished only fifth here last year but went on to finish second in two Group 1s, getting to within a length and a quarter of Baaeed in the Prix Du Moulin. He has been off the track since October but has been pleasing at home.
Aidan O'Brien said: “He was injured at Keeneland on his last run, which is why he's been off so long, but the time before he'd been second to Baaeed at Longchamp. He had a hairline fracture of a fetlock and had to have a pin in it, but we've been happy with him at home.”
The field is completed by Sir Michael Stoute's Sandown Mile winner Lights On, running in her first Group 1 in preference to Wednesday's Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, shock 2018 winner Accidental Agent, operating at a lower level these days but currently in good form in handicaps, and 2020 Silver Hunt Cup winner Sir Busker, who has been winless since but loves a straight course and finished third here 12 months ago.
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