BAAEED put away any doubts that he was an outstanding horse at York on Wednesday. His Lockinge success was very stylish but this was the first time I was happy to say, ‘Wow, yes, that’s class’ as Baaeed moved smoothly away from Mishriff to win the Juddmonte International Stakes by six and a half lengths from the horse who had won the same race by six lengths last year.

Then the comparisons began in earnest. It’s not in any way to diminish him or his record to still ask the question on how good he is. To do that, you must analyse the performance of those beaten. Often when form doesn’t work out it does create a little doubt.

Mishriff was described as a “world-class horse” by one respected pundit. But it’s hard not to shake the feeling that his 2022 season is a bit below his previous two. Is that “world class” the equal of what St Nicholas Abbey had done before he came here in 2012?

The Racing Post went with the assessment that it was “a performance that ranks him alongside the best behind Frankel (143) as he joins his sire Sea The Stars and Daylami on 138 as the second-best turf horses in RPR history.”

I’d need more to be convinced he’d beat Sea The Stars.

Timeform went 137 to Sea The Stars’ 140 and Frankel at 147, which is more in line with racing performances – always noting that Frankel was generally ridden out to the maximum where as Sea The Stars only did enough to win.

Looking back, the King George had the favourites underperforming and Pylediver’s win was a surprise. The 2000 Guineas form has taken a fair bit of bashing these last weeks with Coroebus, Native Trail and Perfect Power all underperforming.

The fillies could well be stronger over longer distances too and it would be interesting to see how far he could beat Nashwa.Were any of this week’s rivals on a par with St Nicholas Abbey, Farhh or Cirrus Des Aigles? Sea The Stars’ Arc was a high-class deep field.

Victory in the Arc would secure Baaeed a place in that elite and give him a further dimension. The Champion Stakes has cut up in recent years and might not offer new rivals. The reasons against running are the extra distance and the prospect of soft or even heavy ground. But in a time of global warming and climate change, maybe we could have decent ground at ParisLongchamp in October.

Future outings are still in the discussion stages but it is a long time until the Champion Stakes in October.

William Haggas brushed off questions on where Baaeed would run next, saying it would be the owner’s decision but there’s no doubt the trainer’s opinion would be taken into account.

Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum’s name is on the Irish Champion Stakes roll of honour way back with Elmaamul and Muhtarram in the 1990s. His best horses – Nashwan, Dayjur and Battaash – never came to Ireland. It would be simply terrific if Sheikha Hissa could be persuaded that Leopardstown would be an ideal race on the way to a finale at Ascot in October.