ITV Racing Tips: Lockinge challenge looks perfect for champion Baaeed
Published:
Champion miler Baaeed makes his hugely anticipated return to action in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury, the first Group 1 for older horses to be staged in Britain this year.
It could be a momentous occasion as the undefeated colt gets a chance to show if he can develop into the superstar many of his connections believe he could be. The winner of six-out-of-six starts faces eight rivals including two other Group 1 winners in the fillies Mother Earth and Alcohol Free.
Eshaada and Scope are among the other Group 1 winners in action on the Newbury card but they both take a drop in class for the Group 3 Al Rayyan Stakes.
ITV are set to show seven races, four from Newbury and three from Newmarket where there is another potential Derby trial in the Listed Fairway Stakes. Coverage begins on ITV from 13:15 and we have previewed the three most significant races of the day in our ITV Racing Tips.
Last year’s winner of this contest, John Leeper, went on to Epsom to run in the Derby but there is only one horse in this race entered in the Classic and Savvy Victory is among the outsiders.
He comes here from Chester where he finished third behind Changingoftheguard in the Vase so could be the best guide to the level of the form.
There is the option of the supplementary stage to get into the Derby for others, if not for Ottoman Fleet who is a gelding. Nevertheless the Godolphin horse looks the most likely to take the next step forward on his second start.
Plenty of top middle-distance horses have come out of this race, Crystal Ocean among the latest, and this year’s line-up includes Eshaada, winner of the Fillies & Mares on Champions Day, and Prix Royal Oak winner Scope. Both have penalties to shoulder on their seasonal reappearances and could be vulnerable to Without A Fight. He finished last season with two good wins and went to Dubai where he was beaten a neck by Hukum and then finished under six lengths behind Japanese star Shahryar in the Sheema Classic. This is a step down from that level.
Three Group 1 winners, who have captured six top level prizes between them, one of which could be outstanding.
Last year’s 1,000 Guineas winner Mother Earth and Alchohol Free, who won at Royal Ascot and in the Sussex Stakes, are admirable fillies but unbeaten miler Baaeed may be out of the ordinary.
He has a perfect record and this could be the perfect starting point for him. He beat both Mother Earth and Alcohol Free when he captured the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes last year and there is no reason to think he can’t do it again, even though they have a fitness advantage.
Trainer William Haggas has made no secret of his opinion of Baaeed. He could be the best horse he has trained and that should be borne out at Newbury.
ITV Racing Schedule, Saturday, 14th May
13:35 Newbury – Carnarvon Stakes
13:50 Newmarket – Fairway Stakes
14:10 Newbury – Al Rayyan Stakes
14:25 Newmarket – 6f handicap
14:45 Newbury – London Gold Cup
15:00 Newmarket – 7f handicap
15:20 Newbury – Lockinge Stakes
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
