Ascot showdown as Baaeed and Adayar clash in Champion Stakes

For UK racing fans, all roads lead to Ascot racecourse on Saturday for the farewell appearance of William Haggas’s superstar Baaeed.

The Qipco Champion Stakes had looked like a walk in the park for the 10-time winner until trainer Charlie Appleby decided to take on Baaeed with last year’s Epsom Derby hero Adayar. Bookmakers still believe Haggas’s colt will win, quoting him at 1-3 with Adayar the second favourite at 7-2.

For Adayar, it will be his first top-level start since finishing fifth in 2021’s Ascot race. Appleby has his stable in hot form and no-one is riding better than William Buick. Win or lose in the big race, it’s going to be a memorable day for him, as he is to be presented with the champion jockey trophy. He has ridden more than 150 winners this term.

Saturday’s encounter is that it could decide this year’s trainers championship with Appleby and Haggas nearly neck and neck in pursuit of the title. Appleby’s gross earnings stand at £5,371,000 while Haggas’s runners have amassed £5,241,000.

The Champion Stakes is worth £737,000 to the winner, which makes Sky Bets’ betting on the title race somewhat baffling. It has Appleby at 4-6 with Haggas at evens, yet the latter will jump into a big lead if — as most pundits expect — Baaeed retires to the breeding barn unbeaten.

Appleby does have Creative Force bidding for back-to-back wins in the Champions Sprint with the globe-trotting Modern Games likely to contest the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Haggas’s Ascot team includes Sea La Rosa (Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes) and Sweet Believer (Balmoral Handicap).

Two other top horses, Emily Upjohn and Trueshan, are expected to be in action at the Berkshire track and it is understandable that officials are predicting a bumper crowd.

With Stradivarius retired, Trueshan has been priced up the 6-4 favourite to win the Qipco British Champion Long Distance Cup for the third year running.

Frankie Dettori fans are sure to support his mount, Emily Upjohn, in the Fillies & Mares Stakes. The John Gosden inmate heads the market at 3-1. 

Meanwhile, Cape Racing has announced entries for the grade 3 Cape Classic to be run over 1,400m on October 22. This race is often a good guide to the grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in December which now carries a stake of R2m.

The Cape Classic entries include Candice Bass-Robinson’s colt Charles Dickens, who is unbeaten in three starts. He is a son of Trippi out of the Dynasty mare Demanding Lady.

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer, who has won the Guineas six times, is likely to be represented in the Classic by Bright Green, who has a favourable draw.