Group One Sussex Stakes Guide 2022

Aidan O’Brien’s charge makes the trip over from Ireland and is another run who’s since boosted the form of Baaeed this season.

After scoring at long odds to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile, he looked set to have a promising career over a mile but found himself struggling in group 1 company last year behind the likes of Alcohol Free, Palace Pier and Baaeed.

The son of Australia has already chased home Baaeed once this season when coming 3rd in the Queen Anne Stakes, before boosting the form of Baaeed when easily winning a group 2 at the Curragh last time out.

He improved for having his first outing to win when last seen, but Baaeed looks to have his number.

A decent juvenile, Chindit picked up group success at 2 years old when scoring the Champagne stakes smartly. He carried that form over into his classic campaign to win the Greenham Stakes on return before finding Poetic Flare too good in the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Failing to get competitive in group races over 7 furlongs to a mile for the rest of the season, he returned as a 4 year old looking much better. Easily winning a listed race at Doncaster, he’s again seen his form tail off though.

Baaeed proved too strong for him in the Lockinge Stakes and the Queen Anne Stakes, but when not faced with that rival he did manage to narrowly win a group 2 last time out. Just edging out Mutasaabeq to win the Summer Mile.

He looks in fine form off the back of that win but has already been put in his place by Baaeed.

After looking like an out and out 1 mile horse last season, Alcohol Free has proved herself to be a much more versatile type this year.

After winning the Fred Darling Stakes on seasonal debut, she then went on to score the Coronation Stakes at Ascot to beat Snow Lantern.

Despite being beaten at Newmarket on her next start, she went on to win this race in impressive fashion last year.

Her form seriously dipped off the back of that however and to try and revive her career she found herself sent sprinting recently.

She looked like it wasn’t going to be her niche when coming 9th in the Diamond Jubilee, however she bounced right back to win the July Cup last time out.

She won this last year in impressive fashion and will likely be the best of the rest home behind Baaeed.

Coming over from Japan to contest this group 1 prize. The 4 year old has some decent enough form over in Native Japan having scored a group 2 in impressive fashion last season over a mile.

His form did seriously tail off after that success however and he was struggling to beat rivals home until bursting back to form with an impressive win at Meydan back in March.

Scoring again at group 2 level, he defied odds of 66/1 to hit the front 2.5 furlongs from home and stay on powerfully. He showed some smart form last time out but doesn’t look to be anywhere near the quality of Baaeed and went off the boil off the back of his last win.

Improving at a rate of knots as a 2 year old saw Angel Bleu climb from novice ranks into group company. He initially found stronger races too much to cope with until being tested over 7 furlongs and winning at this meeting last year.

After a short break he returned to score twice at group 1 level over in France on soft ground. A decent reappearance in the Greenham Stakes saw him finish 3rd behind Perfect Power before finding Coroebus too much to live with in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Likely that the rattling fast ground wasn’t to his liking.

If he gets plenty of rain he’ll fare better but will likely struggle on rattling fast ground again.

The undisputed king of the milers, Baaeed is a perfect 8 from 8 so far in his career. Easily scoring in maiden and novice company last year, he quickly climbed to higher targets.

Scoring in listed company easily, he then gained group 3 success in impressive fashion at this meeting last year. Rounding out the campaign with two group 1 wins, he cemented himself as the top miler when beating Palace Pier at Ascot at the end of the season.

This year he’s continued the winning thread. Scoring in the Lockinge Stakes on reappearance without breaking a sweat, he then took apart the Queen Anne Stakes in devastating fashion last month.

He’s already at prohibitive odds to score another group 1 prize here and it’s hard to see him getting beaten.

Charlie Appleby’s 3 year old looked incredibly smart last year. Scoring in a handicap impressively over 7 furlongs, he then managed to win at group 3 level without any fuss.

Taken over to America for the Breeders’ Cup meeting he easily won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, beating the best of the American juveniles.

A decent return to racing this year saw him capture the French 2000 Guineas before failing to live with subsequent Coral Eclipse winner Vadeni in the French Derby.

A drop to 7 furlongs last time out saw him outpaced and only managing to come 5th. Coming back up in trip should suit but he’s left plenty to be desired in his last two outings.