Two Group I races in Europe run overnight with Coolmore’s rising star Siyouni colt Paddington winning the Coral Eclipse (1m2f) at Sandown, while in France last year’s Irish Derby winner Westover took the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (2400m).
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Paddington was sent out favourite in the small field of four following G1 wins in the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes and returned a winner, proving too good for outstanding mare Emily Upjohn to score a half length win.
They engaged in a stirring duel with Paddington up in trip for the first time from 1m and Emily Upjohn dropping back from her last start win in the G1 Epsom Coronation Cup at 1m4f.
Ryan Moore was thrilled with the win.
“I don't think we saw the best of Paddington. He brought me there very comfortably and I felt I was very vulnerable in the middle of the track. He was exposed and a very good filly came running at him. She's seriously top class. He's got an awful lot of pace and a lot of gears - he's all class really,” Moore said.
“He's done nothing wrong and Aidan can keep bringing him back and backing him up. He's a tough horse with plenty of ability. We had very little doubts about the trip. He could get further because he's a very good horse and class is the thing that exposes everything else. This is a top-class colt and we'll enjoy him.”
Despite winning at the longer trip, plans may include a drop back to the 1m for the Group I Sussex Stakes next month.
“He's getting quicker. Ryan said he's hitting the gates quickly, travelling very easy through the race and he's getting there and waiting. He was heavier here than he was at Ascot which is unusual, so he is obviously turning into a very quick horse. He's a dream. The lads will make a decision where we go next, but I'd imagine they would look at the Sussex Stakes, but we'll see how he comes out of this. That isn't set in stone, but I could see that as something they would look at,” said Aidan O'Brien.
A 420,000 euro purchase from the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale, Paddington was the highest priced yearling by his sire at that sale. He has six wins from seven starts and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Masterpiece from stakes-winning Montjeu mare Modern Eagle.
He is one of nine G1 winners among 69 stakes-winners for champion French sire Siyouni, who has become an important stallion for Coolmore with his Group I winning sons St Mark’s Basilica and Sottsass both on the roster in Ireland.
Siyouni’s champion son St Mark’s Basilica shuttled to Coolmore Australia last spring and returns again this year at a fee of $44,000.
The Group I Grand Prix de Saint Cloud (2400m) marked a return to winning form for the Ralph Beckett trained Frankel stallion Westover, who was second at his previous start to Emily Upjohn in the G1 Epsom Coronation Cup.
Westover started favourite and scored a two length win for Rob Hornby claiming his first win since the Irish Derby last year.
“Wherever Westover goes, even in Dubai (second to Equinox in the Sheema Classic), someone always says what a lovely horse and he genuinely is. It's not like things have not gone to plan, we only had one blip at Ascot in the King George. In everything else he's run his legs off,” said Ralph Beckett.
“He hated the ground in the Arc but he still finished an honourable sixth. I'm really pleased to have got it done with him because it's a good spot for him and when you're on a comeback mission it feels a long time since he won. In the Irish Derby we were really confident, but there was some pressure today because it's time he won again. There's always pressure when that's involved. We'll have a think about the King George but at some point we'll think about going further with him because they came at him but he's stretched again and has won cosily.”
A homebred for Juddmonte Farms, Westover has four wins and five placings from 11 starts. He is a full brother to Group III winner Monarchs Glen and is the best of seven winners from Group III winning Lear Fan mare Mirabilis, a half-sister to dual Group I winner Nebraska Tornado.
The family has an offshoot branch in Australia through Panorama Ridge (USA), a daughter of Nebraska Tornado that has left two stakes-winners here in Mallory and Sassy ‘n’ Smart, that are both at stud. Mallory is in foal to Maurice (Jpn) and Sassy ‘n’ Smart to Extreme Choice.
