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| Staff Writer |
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When the QIPCO Champion Stakes (Gr.1) was held on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot, the previously unbeaten colt, Baaeed (GB), finished a disappointing fourth behind the son of New Bay (GB), Bay Bridge (GB). As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In, Bay Bridge has earned a spot in the US$4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (Gr.1). Winners of the 82 foreign stakes races comprising the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series will be guaranteed starting positions and entry fees into the equivalent race at the Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held on November 4-5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. The connections of Bay Bridge believe that the horse performs better on softer ground, and thus they haven't seen him race since he finished fifth in the Coral-Eclipse (Gr.1) at Sandown Park in July.
The connections' gamble paid off as the 4-year-old colt thrived on the good to soft, and soft in places, ground. Richard Kingscote, the winner of the Cazoo Derby (Gr.1), was aboard Bay Bridge throughout the whole contest. With 2 furlongs to go, both Kingscote and the defending champion, Adayar, began their decisive charges (IRE). Favorite Baaeed had his normal jockey, Jim Crowley, ride him into contention, but the son of Sea The Stars (IRE) couldn't get going on the soft ground and ended up in fourth place. In the end, Bay Bridge triumphed by a half-length over Adayar, with My Prospero (IRE) a close third.
It was a third win in the race for Sir Michael Stoute and the Newmarket trainer stated, “Bay Bridge was very brave, and I’m absolutely thrilled. The staff have done a great job with this horse, and we’re all delighted. He was in very good shape coming here. We thought Baaeed was unbeatable, or I did, but I thought he had a great chance of being second because he was in terrific shape.” Haggas said on Baaeed’s shock defeat, “It was disappointing, but he’s still a brilliant horse. He didn’t show that today but don’t take anything away from him, I’m very proud.”