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By Breandán Ó hUallacháin
CHICHESTER, U.K.– Paddington claimed a fourth Group 1 success when winning the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, England, on Wednesday.
Winner of the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh in May, the son of Siyouni, maintained his fine record at the highest level in claiming the £1 million one-mile contest in the south of England.
Carrying the colours of the Coolmore partners, and trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien, the three-year-old came home a length and a half ahead of Facteur Cheval, ridden by Maxine Guyon. The Irish-bred French-trained son of Ribchester had three length in hand on third placer Charyn, the mount of David Egan.
When interviewed on Racing TV, winning jockey Ryan Moore disclosed:
“He’s just thriving on racing. He’s a very uncomplicated horse, if it’s a mile or ten (furlongs). He’s won on quick ground at Ascot and bad ground here today. You can ride him pretty much however the race unfolds. He’s a very unique horse. Everytime he comes to the races, it feels as though he loves it. I’m very fortunate to be riding him. I’m sure there will be bigger tests ahead but he’s done everything we’ve put in front of him.”
Paddington has raced at the one-mile distance for all four of his Group 1 successes so far this season, but Moore was asked whether he believed the start colt would stay a longer distance.
“He’s out of a Montjeu mare,” the English rider offered. “His dam (Modern Eagle) stayed, there’s every chance he could (stay a mile and a half). He’s very good at a mile and we have a bit of time, so we’ll see how he comes out of the race.”
The winning handler, Aidan O’Brien, was also effusive in his praise of the Dayton Investments Limited-bred colt:
“He’s an incredible horse. He’s thriving, from race to race he’s getting heavier, which is very unusual. Trip doesn’t seem to be a problem to him. He’s unbelievably enthusiastic, very confident, and very came – so a very unusual horse. What he’s doing is really, really unusual. The great thing about him is that you could nearly go any route with him, I’d image.”
Paddington has an entry in the one-mile two-furlong Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on August 23.
When asked during a Racing TV interview if the colt might be kept in training next year as a four-year-old, the multiple time Irish champion flat trainer, Aidan O’Brien, answered:
Paddington has now tasted success in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineasat The Curragh in May, the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July, and now the Qatar Sussex Stakes in August.
“There’s always a chance but I know that when genes present themselves that strong how important they become to the broodmare band. It is always a worry that something happens to them and we don’t get to see what his progeny is going to because he is a very unusual combination of Siyouni, Danehill and Montjeu all mixed into the one, and he loves racing, with an unbelievable mind.”
