Baaeed will set his undefeated record at the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes in Newbury.
The four-year-old coached by William Haggas will head straight to the Group One show on May 14 as he tries to build a perfect 2021 in which he wins six out of six, culminating in Queen Elizabeth II Shares in Ascot.
Baaeed only debuted in June and quickly climbed the ranks to end the season with two wins in Group One, at the Prix du Moulin and QEII.
“Baaeed hasn’t started work quickly, but he’s doing well. He’s had a good winter and he does a lot of air conditioning work. He’s going straight to Newbury. No chance for him. Where does he go first,” Haggas said.
“The plan would be to go to Newbury and then Royal Ascot and then see where we are. I think the interesting thing is when, if at all, we will travel with him. He is he. Hukum’s brother and has grown to go further, but while he’s a mile away there’s no need to.”
Although the ground was soft when Baaeed won QEII, Haggas felt the pony owned by Shadwell could handle any condition.
“There was an element of relief when he won the QEII. We hoped he got there and he proved he did, but I still don’t believe he needs that platform, this is pretty soft in my book”, Newmarket Handler.
“He’s had some good form on that surface, but if the Newbury surface comes out quickly, it won’t bother me at all. It will be fine for him, I’m sure.
“Baaeed didn’t start racing until last June, and after just six runs we were all hoping for more. You can never be sure, and he probably won’t. as good as he is, but all indications are he might just be as good as four, if not better, so we have to hope he is.”
Haggas also entered Aldaary, who completed a Championship Day double for the stables justifying bias in the Balmoral Handicap.
He said: “Aldaary has never run in a stock race, but he is a good horse on heavy ground, and the straight line suits him very well. He achieved that at Ascot, where he goes it’s very good, and there’s no reason why Newbury shouldn’t Nor be it for him It’s just that sometimes it’s so soft on the Lockman, and if that’s the case then Aldaary will be there to throw shadow. “
Others among the 18 quality entries were last year’s 1000 Guineas Winner from Aidan O’Brien stables, Alcohol-Free, winner of both the Sussex Crown and Shares for Andrew Balding, and the State Of Rest do Training Joseph O’Brien, who captured Australia’s signature weight-for-age competition, Cox Plate, in 2021.
There are two entries from France, both trained by Francis Graffard, Nominee The Revenant, 2020 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner, who finished fourth behind Baaeed at Ascot last year and Group Three Dilawar winner.
