Matt Chapman: Where would you run Baaeed on his final start? Should he run at Ascot or tackle the Arc?

US DIE-HARD racing fans want unbeaten Baaeed to continue racing for the rest of our lives!

But of course, real life is not like that.

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Matt Chapman is back with his latest columnCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd.

We all know he will retire soon, but the question is when?

It appears the William Haggas-trained monster has three more options before he is sent to stud.

The first would be the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, the second the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and the third the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Again, as fans of the horse, most would love to see him in at least two of those races.

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And that’s possible, if Baaeed was to go to Ireland and Berkshire.

That said, many would opt for the Arc, as it’s the European showdown and would see him tackle a mile and half for the first time.

When deciding Baaeed’s future you have to look at it from the point of view of those who own the four-year-old, rather than us supporters.

Let’s have a look at the pros and cons. The  Irish Champion Stakes is the first possible date on September 10. Having already won the Juddmonte International, Baaeed won’t be worth any more as a stallion by winning here.

He will face new, tough opponents, headed by Eclipse winner Vadeni, so might be able to further improve his rating and  he would show he can score in Ireland so would conquer a new country.

But there is little else to gain other than to give him a spin at a perfect time before Ascot. There is always the chance he may get beaten —  it seems a pointless risk.

If Baaeed could land the Arc on October 2 he would prove himself one of the greatest of all time.

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Possibly even THE greatest.

He would have been a champion over a mile, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half. Frankel never did that. But oddly, breeders might feel the opposite.

Those who send mares to Baaeed might feel by winning the Arc he has  too much stamina.

Breeding has become all about speed. While he will be showing himself to be a champion to every fan in the game, to breeders he might be doing the opposite. I see that as breeding insanity. But, hey, that’s the world we live in.

Baaeed would win the Arc. But if I owned him I might feel differently. Defeat is never out of the  question, so why take the risk?

If he’s not worth more at stud all you are doing it for is ego or to leave your mark on the game.

That might be enough. Only his camp know how important it is to see those famous silks go past the post first in an Arc.

The Champion Stakes at Ascot has always been the plan. It’s also the race Frankel won after York. It’s hard to see how Baaeed would increase his stock by landing the prize, it will be no more prestigious than  the Juddmonte.

But an impressive win could further elevate his rating, currently 5lb inferior to Frankel.

This Champion would also probably pose the least threat of him losing his unbeaten record

The heart and some of the head says go to Paris, but for those closest to Baaeed it’s easy to understand why they would take the Ascot option.

What would you do?

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