 |
|
| Sumita Pawar |
 |
On Wednesday, August 2, Aidan O'Brien referred to Paddington as being "a little bit different" as his top horse competes in the £1m Gr.1 Qatar Sussex Stakes during the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
So far this season, Paddington has been dominant in five starts, solidifying his position as the top miler of his generation. He achieved comprehensive wins in the Gr.1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and Gr.1 St James's Palace Stakes, establishing his superiority. In the recent Gr.1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown Park, which marked the first clash of generations, the Siyouni colt showcased his versatility by successfully fending off Emily Upjohn in a thrilling finish, proving his effectiveness over 10 furlongs.
O’Brien said, “I hold Paddington in very high regard. He is very natural, very quick, and very straightforward. He is a little bit different, we think, and the way he has progressed from run to run is very unusual.
“Ryan [Moore] always thought he had lots of pace and coming back to a mile won’t be a problem. We were delighted with him in the Eclipse and we always had the Sussex Stakes as part of his programme.
“He has been putting on weight after every run. He was much heavier heading into the Eclipse than he was before Ascot, which is quite unusual. He thrives on work and everyone involved with him is very happy.
“He has gone from strength to strength and Ryan is very impressed with him all the time. He is standing up to a lot of scrutiny and it is the ease with which he is doing it. He looks a serious horse at the moment.
“The Sussex Stakes is a very prestigious race that has stood the test of time. For a horse going to stud, it is very important with it being the first time the 3YO can take on the older milers.”
Aidan O'Brien is optimistic that Emily Dickinson will have a strong performance in the Gr.1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup on Tuesday, August 1. The favorable underfoot conditions are expected to work in her favor.
Underfoot Advantage: Emily Dickinson Set To Dominate Goodwood
After placing fourth in the Gold Cup, Emily Dickinson, a filly sired by Dubawi, displayed her superiority by winning the Curragh Cup by three lengths last week.
She has recovered well from the race and there is a possibility that she will compete in the Qatar Goodwood Festival next week.
“Emily Dickinson came out of the Curragh very well," O'Brien said.
"Ryan (Moore) was happy with her and felt she won very easily. She is a filly we really fancied for the Gold Cup. She ran a good race and came out of it well.
“She loved the ease in the ground at the Curragh. She comes out of races on fast ground perfectly, which suggests it does not bother her, but she appears much better with ease in the ground. It hinders other horses, whereas she appears to grow another leg on soft ground.
“Since the Goodwood Cup has been upgraded to a Group One, it has been brilliant. It is a very prestigious race and a unique race because two miles on the Goodwood track is very different. It is a difficult race to win but we always try to have a horse that is good enough to win it.”
Aidan O'Brien's Quest For Glory: Conquering Goodwood Festival
Aidan O'Brien, is preparing a small but select team for the Qatar Goodwood Festival. O'Brien already has an impressive list of accolades this season, and he aims to add to his tally of 23 winners at the festival.
His top contender is Paddington, who will be running in the Qatar Sussex Stakes. O'Brien also mentioned his other horses, including Broome, Emily Dickinson, Library, Never Ending Story, and potential contenders for the Vintage Stakes. He highlighted the competitiveness of the races and the importance of winning the prestigious Sussex Stakes.