Horse Power: Baaeed to star in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury

can star in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (British Champions Series) (3.20pm) at Newbury on Saturday afternoon.

Willie Haggas’ four-year-old is hardly a betting prospect at long odds-on but he looks sure to maintain his unbeaten record in the Group One feature at the Berkshire track.

The son of the Sea The Stars didn’t race as a juvenile but he improved with every run at three in 2021, winning six in a row, starting out in a Maiden at the start of June last year and finishing with back-to-back Group One victories.

He looks to have all the ability to show he is the leading older miler this season and can make a winning return at Newbury.

He improved with every run, winning a Listed event at Newmarket’s July meeting, before taking a Group Three at Glorious Goodwood before being pitched in at the top level.

He won the Group One Prix Du Moulin de Longchamp at Paris-Longchamp in September before signing off with a superb success when getting the better of last year’s Lockinge hero and dual Royal Ascot scorer Palace Pier in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in October.

That rival is now retired and Baaeed can prove he can take over at the top of the mile division.

Four-year-old fillies, the Andrew Balding-trained and Aidan O’Brien’s , will certainly give him a race in receipt of 3lb, with the latter the most likely to get close. But both were well behind at Ascot in the QEII last autumn and will again have to settle for minor honours behind the brilliant Baaeed, who can then head to Royal Ascot for more.

Another in the famous blue and white colours of Shadwell Estate Company Ltd, , can provide a boost ahead of Baaeed’s Group One bid with victory in the Group Three Al Rayyan Stakes (Registered As The Aston Park Stakes)