Coolmore owned super Siyouni colt Paddington marched to a fourth consecutive Group I win at Goodwood on Wednesday handling the heavy ground to beat older rivals and win the Group I Sussex Stakes (1m).
Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, Paddington is riding a seven race winning streak that started with a maiden win at the Curragh over 7f last October at his second start. Since then he returned to win a handicap race at Naas this year followed by a Listed victory at the Curragh before starting his G1 winning run.
He took the Irish 2000 Guineas followed by the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot both over 1m before stepping up to 1m2f to beat older horses in the Coral Eclipse Stakes.
Dropping back in trip for the Sussex, Paddington again proved superior racing to a length and a half win as a short priced favourite.
“It's a hard thing to say but Paddington gives you the feel that he might be as good a horse as I've ridden. He's exceptional. And he's handled everything that we've put in front of him, whether it's a mile, ten (furlongs), good ground, soft. He's a straightforward horse who thrives on his racing. Someone asked me yesterday if he'd go on this ground and I said he'd go on snow,” said Ryan Moore.
Paddington has won seven of eight starts to date and has earned comparisons with the stable’s former star three year-old Giant’s Causeway, who won the same sequence of races back in 2000 and after the Sussex he won the Juddmonte International and the Irish Champions Stakes before second placings in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and US Breeders Cup Classic on dirt.
He later became a champion sire and remains a big influence thanks to his sire son Shamardal and grand-son Lope de Vega.
“I think the Juddmonte International definitely has to be on the cards,” said Aidan O’Brien.
“Paddington is much quicker than the Giant was. He's tactically quick but he can quicken as well. The Giant was tactically quick and was dour after that. This horse can really turn it on when you have to, on all types of ground. He is unique.
“It's amazing that he is getting ready to run again so quickly after each race–he was three to four kilos heavier today than the last day which wasn't that long ago.
“You always worry about having that extra weight on him in that ground, as it makes it more of a test of endurance rather than speed and speed is his big thing. The tougher the race, the better he is getting and he wasn't stressed after the race here. Everything is open to him–Tom (Magnier) has mentioned the option of going to Australia, so we'll maybe look at York with him next time and see then.
“He could do anything–he's very special, we think. We made the Arc entry also, because Ryan says there doesn't seem to be any end to his stamina.”
A 420,000 euro purchase from the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale, Paddington was the highest priced yearling by his sire at that sale and is a half-brother to stakes-placed Masterpiece from stakes-winning Montjeu mare Modern Eagle.
He is one of 10 G1 winners among 70 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.
