Qipco Champion Stakes

(Group 1)

THE Champion Stakes was scripted as a triumphant farewell to superstar Baaeed, but scripts rarely work in horse racing, and the previously unbeaten colt suffered a heavy reverse, finishing no closer than fourth behind Bay Bridge (Sir Michael Stoute/Richard Kingscote), who stuck on bravely to hold the challenges of Adayar and My Prospero, scoring by half a length and a nose.

Stone Age set the pace, but was done with early in the straight, with Adayar taking over, and quickly challenged by Bay Bridge.

The latter got to the front a furlong out, but last year’s Derby hero rallied strongly, and My Prospero finished best having had to switch from between rivals. Baaeed kept trying in behind but found the cloying ground blunting his acceleration.

Stoute said: “Bay Bridge was very brave. I am absolutely thrilled. The staff have done a great job with this horse, and we are all delighted. He was in very good shape coming here – he came back from [the Eclipse] with a knock and we had to back off him, so he’s been very consistent this year with the exception of that race.

“We thought the favourite was unbeatable – or I did – but I thought he had a great chance of being second, because he was in terrific shape. “I hope we are still friends!

Trueshan battles to his hat-trick

British Champions Long

Distance Cup (Group 2)

TRUESHAN brought up a British Champions Long Distance Cup hat-trick for himself, trainer Alan King and jockey Hollie Doyle as he got the better of a stirring duel with the Andrew Balding-trained Coltrane (David Probert) to claim the Group 2 prize.

Trueshan was heavily supported after a sharp shower in the morning, going off the 11/8 favourite, but he was made to work hard by Coltrane, who had beaten him in the Doncaster Cup last month, with the winner only having a head to spare over the tenacious runner-up.

The front pair pulled three lengths clear of Trawlerman (John & Thady Gosden/Frankie Dettori) in third.

In a controversial race, Hollie Doyle was banned for five days for two separate instances of careless riding, when manoeuvring right at the opening bend, causing interference to Coltrane, and when causing James Doyle on Wordsworth to check when angling out to challenge on the final turn.

On both occasions, the stewards ruled that Doyle was not sufficiently clear when making those moves.

Not stopping

Winning trainer Alan King said: “The ground was right today, and Trueshan had to be at his best. Hollie said she thought with a furlong to go, she’d go and win and win well, but Coltrane was not stopping, and he came back at us. He had to be right up there today to hold them off.

“I think last time at Doncaster he was remembering Goodwood and wouldn’t let himself down. He had a week down at Jamie Magee’s on-the-water treadmill, which he absolutely loves, and then we started training him for this.

“One thing we’ve learned it that he does not go on quickish ground again. He’s not as good on it and it leaves its mark. A few people doubted me for that, and I’ve had all the criticism for withdrawing him on numerous occasions, but you’ve got to.

“As long as we mind him, he could be around for a few years yet. I just want a very wet June, because the one thing I’d love to run him in is the Gold Cup.”

Doyle said: “It was really rough going into that first bend. I had Wordsworth on my outside. I was caught in a pocket, and it was one of them where you either kick in or get flattened. I kicked in and some people suffered as a consequence.

RALPH Beckett’s Kinross has proved better than ever this autumn and added to his Prix de la Foret win with an impressive victory in the Group 1 British Champions Sprint Stakes under Frankie Dettori.

The well-backed 3/1 favourite is a seven-furlong specialist but was suited by the stiff track and soft ground as he gained his first win at the six-furlong trip.

Kinross was always well positioned in the group which raced on the stands’ side of the course, and Dettori kicked him on two furlongs out to make use of his stamina.

He soon had most of his rivals in trouble, and it was left to 150/1 outsider Run To Freedom (Henry Candy/Dane O’Neill) to run on to grab second, some two and a quarter lengths behind the winner.

He edged out 2021 winner Creative Force (Charlie Appleby/William Buick) by a neck for second, with Rohaan best of the rest in fourth, and the only horse in the first seven to have come from a single-figure stall number.

There is no doubt that the draw influenced the overall result, with those racing on the far side at an apparent disadvantage, but Kinross was clearly the best horse on the day.

Ralph Beckett revealed that he had a late scare here when Kinross (who is described as having ‘paper-thin’ soles) pulled off a shoe the previous week.

He remains on course for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on November 5th.