Baaeed looks something special

Things didn't go to plan for Al Aasy in the Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes with William Haggas' four year old unable to reel in Sir Ron Priestley in the closing stages. Beaten a neck, the son of Sea The Stars held every chance inside the final furlong but found Mark Johnston's winner too strong in the latter stages. Perhaps the ground was too lively for the runner-up but either way it was disappointing he couldn't regain the winning thread.

However, stablemate Baaeed provided the yard with a Pattern win in the Listed Sir Henry Cecil Stakes with a stunning display. Another son of Sea The Stars, he had impressed in both his wins at Leicester and Newmarket but this represented a major rise in class but he passed the test with flying colours. Jim Crowley's colt wasn't the quickest into stride and therefore trailed the five strong field during the early stages. Pulled out with a couple of furlongs to run, he swept clear to win easily by four lengths. It was a performance which oozed class. Entered in the Group 2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood (28th August), William is of the opinion Baaeed will come into his own next year. The fact he is a full-brother to Hukum, who is a dual Pattern winner over a mile and a half, implies he will be even better over further than a mile. He is a hugely exciting prospect and could develop into one of the best horses ever trained at Somerville Lodge - he could be that good. Those who bought Ahead On The Flat this year will be fully aware that Baaeed was William's horse to follow for 2021. 

Switching codes, I am delighted to say James Reveley will once again be contributing to One Jump Ahead adding his comments to those horses which have been purchased to race in Britain in Ireland this winter having begun their careers in France. The former French champion jump jockey rode a number of the horses involved which makes his comments even more pertinent. 

I am working at York tomorrow - a tough card with 88 runners, including a Group 3 fillies sprint and some impossible looking handicaps - for Racing TV and will therefore update the Diary at some stage over the weekend.