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| Sumita Pawar |
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Tom Magnier of Coolmore revealed that there is a possibility of sending the Coral-Eclipse champion, Paddington, to Australia for the lucrative A$5 million Cox Plate.
The talented horse, who has won three Group One races, was last seen defeating Emily Upjohn at Sandown and is now preparing for his return at Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes on August 2.
Seventh Heaven: Paddington's Winning Streak
If successful, this would mark his seventh consecutive victory under the guidance of Aidan O'Brien. Despite holding entries for prestigious races such as the Juddmonte International, Irish Champion Stakes, and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Paddington has also been given the intriguing option of participating in the Australian Group One race on October 28, a race that O'Brien previously won in 2014 with Adelaide.
Magnier, who is the principal of Coolmore's Australian operation, told RSN Racing And Sport: "We're going to be chatting about that over the next couple of days [bringing horses to Australia].
"When you look at Paddington, he is the best 3YO in Europe. Obviously, we've got Auguste Rodin that won the Derby – he's a machine – but I was looking at Paddington and what he is doing is breathtaking. He is an absolute superstar.
"You'd have to think that if he lined up in a Cox Plate, he'd be very hard to beat. I'm not saying that that's going to happen, but we obviously hold Australian racing in very high regard and bringing a horse like Paddington down for a Cox Plate . . . it would be tempting and very exciting."
On Thursday, Moonee Valley Racing announced that the Juddmonte International, in which Paddington is currently priced at 4-1, will now serve as a qualifying race for the Cox Plate.
This means that if Paddington were to win the Juddmonte International, he would automatically secure a spot in the Cox Plate. Additionally, a travel package will be provided to encourage more international competition in the Cox Plate.
The Juddmonte International is the only European race that serves as a Cox Plate qualifier, while the Saratoga Derby and the Takarazuka Kinen are also eligible.
This new incentive adds to the global appeal of Juddmonte International, as the winner will also receive entry to the Breeders' Cup Classic and have the opportunity to win bonus prize money in the Japan Cup.
Furthermore, it was recently announced that the Ebor Handicap, held shortly after the Juddmonte International, will provide automatic entry to the Melbourne Cup.