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Baaeed to bow out in Champion Stakes at Ascot - not the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

William Haggas has announced Baaeed will have his final outing in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot rather than the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Following a stunning display on his first start over 10 furlongs in the Juddmonte International at York, connections indicated they might consider supplementing him for the 12-furlong French feature on October 2.
However, following discussions between Haggas and owner Shadwell, it has been decided Baaeed will sign off his career closer to home next month.
"After much consultation with Sheika Hissa and her team, we have decided that Baaeed's final start will be in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 15," said Haggas.
Haggas went on: "He was very impressive in the Juddmonte International and it was only right that we explored every option.
"But I, in particular, was very keen to keep him at a mile and a quarter and therefore the Qipco Champion Stakes was the only logical solution.
"There are many, I'm sure, who are going to be disappointed that he is not going to be running in the Arc, but we can't do both and we all feel that it is the right decision for the horse, so Ascot it will be.
"Let's hope we have him in top form for that."
Baaeed is unbeaten in 10 career starts, with his last six victories all coming at Group One level.
Despite saying he would love to win the Arc, Baaeed's big-race pilot Jim Crowley agrees with the team decision to head to Ascot.
"William asked me, and to be honest with you, from a jockey's point of view you would love to win the Arc. But is that right for the horse?" Crowley told Sky Sports Racing.
"From my point of view I would like to win the Arc and I think he probably could do. But you have to do what is right by the horse and I appreciate and agree the right thing to do is to go to Ascot.
"If you are going to Longchamp, firstly you are supplementing the horse, and he wouldn't want a mile and a half on very testing ground. I think in the last 10 years, six of the Arcs have been run on very soft ground and it's a lot to expect for him to go and do that.
"It's almost as if people want him to get beat. I'd love to see him win the Arc, it would be fantastic. But it makes sense for him to go to Ascot.
"I can't wait (to ride him again). I'll never find another one like it, he's a superstar."

Karl Burke considers Breeders' Cup bid for Dramatised

Elsewhere, a trip to the Breeders' Cup is under consideration for Karl Burke's speedy juvenile filly Dramatised.

The daughter of Showcasing was hugely impressive on her racecourse debut at Newmarket in the spring and justified her tall reputation with victory in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.
She was disappointing when bidding for her hat-trick in the Lowther at York last month, seemingly failing to see out six furlongs, but Burke has not lost any faith in the youngster.
"She's had an easy time since York and we're just starting to do a bit more work with her now - we're having to just to keep a lid on her. She looks in great shape," he said.
The Spigot Lodge handler views the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland as a suitable target, with Newmarket's Cornwallis Stakes on October 7 a possible stepping-stone.
Burke added: "I'm not 100 per cent sure where we're going. The Breeders' Cup is on our minds and I'd like to have a prep run, but there's probably only the Group Three Cornwallis and that would mean her carrying a Group Two penalty.
"I'm not sure what we'll do, but she is in great shape."
Another Burke-trained juvenile filly who could be in line for a shot at Group One honours is Novakai, who filled the runner-up spot in the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last week.
"I was delighted with her. I made a mistake running her over seven furlongs on fast ground at Newmarket and she looks like she's going to be a mile-and-a-half filly next year," said the trainer.
"She's a high-class filly, she showed what she's made of the other day and she can only progress through the winter and into her three-year-old career.
"She'll probably have one more run this season. She's in the Fillies' Mile and if the ground came up soft there, I would think that's where she'll go."

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