Baaeed’s shock defeat on QIPCO British Champions Day last Saturday has opened the door to several of his rivals in the race to be crowned Cartier Horse of the Year.
Shadwell’s superstar colt headed into the QIPCO Champion Stakes with a faultless record of 10 wins from 10 starts for William Haggas but lost his unbeaten record as he could only finish fourth behind Bay Bridge.
Baaeed continues to lead the points in the Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Older Horse divisions with 176 points, although his Ascot reversal has taken the gloss off an outstanding campaign.
His position at the head of both categories could come under threat when public voting for the Cartier Racing Awards commences at noon on Tuesday, October 25, particularly with two of his closest Cartier Horse of the Year rivals, Kyprios (152) and Alpinista (112), having remained unbeaten throughout 2022.
Bay Bridge (80) himself has emerged as a Cartier Older Horse contender following his half-length success in the QIPCO Champion Stakes. After easily winning on his seasonal return at Sandown Park, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt filled the runner-up spot in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot before sustaining a knock in the Coral-Eclipse.
Cartier Three-Year-Old Filly leader Inspiral (96) also met with a surprise defeat at Ascot when coming home sixth in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO). Her co-trainers John & Thady Gosden did enjoy success on the card with another three-year-old filly as Emily Upjohn (64) bounced back to her best in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes.
Godolphin’s Modern Games (100) consolidated his position behind Vadeni (124) in the Cartier Three-Year-Old Colt category as he filled the runner-up spot behind Bayside Boy (48) in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored by QIPCO).
A sensational autumn for Kinross has seen the Ralph Beckett-trained five-year-old emerge as a late contender for both Cartier Horse of the Year (106) and Cartier Sprinter (32) honours. The son of Kingman annexed his second G1 in the space of 13 days with an impressive display in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint.
Last year’s Cartier Stayer recipient Trueshan (32) became the first horse to win three races on QIPCO British Champions Day as he came out on top in a thrilling battle with Coltrane (32) for the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup.
Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket earlier in the month also produced two notable performances. Chaldean (56) advertised his Cartier Two-Year-Old Colt claims when edging out Royal Scotsman (36) in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, while Cartier Two-Year-Old Filly contender Commissioning (48) rounded off an unbeaten season with victory in the bet365 Fillies’ Mile.