3 minute read

Bay Bridge could take advantage of the soft ground conditions at Ascot on Saturday, with some of his main competition expressing concern over the going. 

Last year's Champion Stakes winner will be hoping to defend his crown on Saturday against high-profile opposition such as dual Group 1 winner Mostahdaf and the French-trained Horizon Dore.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained horse finished well-beaten behind Mostahdaf in the Prince of Wales's Stakes over the same course and distance at Royal Ascot but bounced back to winning ways on the all-weather in the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton Park. It was Bay Bridge's first attempt over twelve furlongs and connections felt the performance warranted a tilt at the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where the five-year-old finished a credible sixth behind Ace Impact. 

"If he can go back and defend his crown, that would be wonderful," said Ballylinch Stud's John O'Connor, part owner of Bay Bridge.

"At the moment the intention is to run as far as I know, but all of those final decisions will come down to Sir Michael Stoute. All I know is he was happy with him when I last spoke to him and the intention is to go to Ascot on Saturday.

"He has good form on varying ground at Ascot. He's run well there on summer ground as well and he was maybe a little bit unlucky when touched off in the Prince of Wales's last year.

"I don't know myself which track they will race on, but we will just turn up on whatever track we're told to turn up on I guess.

"He appears to have come out of the Arc well and he ran very well there. For the moment we're heading directly to Ascot, hopefully still in good form.

"In terms of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, he probably did a little too much too early. You obviously need to hold your position in a race with that many runners, but he probably did a little bit too much and it probably cost him a little bit in the straight. Nonetheless he ran a really good race."

The return to ten furlongs is expected to be a major positive for Bay Bridge, with two of his three Group victories coming over the trip.

"It looks like that [is his best distance] and his highest ratings are at that trip, so hopefully dropping him back will be beneficial to him."

Bay Bridge is a 9/2 shot to retain his crown in Saturday's Group 1  British Champion Stakes.