‘He’s Much Faster Than The Giant’ – O’Brien Lauds Ballydoyle’s New Iron Horse

As expected, Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. was all about TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) who was able to dictate and dominate in Goodwood's heavily rain-softened ground and register a fourth straight top-level success. While his 1 1/2-length verdict over Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) is hardly inspiring stuff, the 4-9 favourite never looked likely to surrender his admirable sequence with Ryan Moore on the stand's rail throughout the closing stages which probably made for more tense watching than the winner's connections had expected.

The time of 1:47.16 was over 10 seconds outside standard time and represented more of a “French-style” mostly slow and then quick test which is not what the eventual last Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) least wants. She was the only one to truly put it up to the Ballydoyle colt, but she was spent two out, with the minor placings filled out by Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) three lengths behind Facteur Cheval in third in this GI Breeders' Cup Mile qualifier.

“He is thriving on racing and is a very uncomplicated horse,” Moore said. “He's won on fast and very bad ground here over a mile and a mile and a quarter and you can ride him however you like, it doesn't matter. He's a very unique horse–every time he comes to the races he feels like he loves it. Some people say he's taken us by surprise, but I can assure you he hasn't because all this year he's shown he's a very good horse.”

“I had everything on my own terms early on and wanted to go as gently as I could and get to the fence, but Frankie did what he could and we started racing too early really,” Moore added. “His filly was gone at the two and look where she ended up, but he's still got plenty left. There is every chance he could stay a mile and a half, he's out of a Montjeu mare, but we've got a bit of time and we'll see how he comes out of this race. It is a hard thing to say, but he gives you the feel that he might be as good a horse as I have ridden. He is exceptional. Someone asked me yesterday if he would go on this ground and I said 'he would go on snow'.”

The tale of this race was already largely predictable even before the persistent rain, with the presence of the favourite having already scared some meaningful opposition off to Deauville. With only Inspiral on his wavelength, his task was made all the easier as it dictated how the tactics would play out. It was a case of “after you” from the start and given how rapid Paddington always is from the gates it quickly became a matter of when Frankie would attack and a play for second from the other three.

Inspiral was inclined to pull off the moderate pace, which only served to further diminish her threat already lessened by the way the ground was riding and the moment of truth came as she was placed alongside Paddington straightening for home. Forcing the favourite into a sectional of :11.58 from the three to the two, she was soon tired and backtracking with a Jacques le Marois defence in Dettori's mind as Paddington forged a :11.92 penultimate split to kill the contest. Facteur Cheval was impressively fast for most of the final three furlongs and for all that he failed to get alongside the winner, he at least made Moore employ the whip.

Where next for Paddington? With a constitution like his, turning up in Normandy in 11 days' time for the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois is not out of the question, but it seems to be all about the Giant's Causeway route with Aidan O'Brien mentioning York's Ebor Festival in the immediate aftermath. “I think the Juddmonte International definitely has to be on the cards,” he said. “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.”

“Paddington is much quicker than the Giant was,” the master of Ballydoyle added. “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.”

“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,” O'Brien concluded. “The tougher the race, the better he is getting and he wasn't stressed after the race here. Everything is open to him–Tom 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.”

Peter Brant, who has an interest in Paddington, was on hand to witness the race on his first visit to Goodwood and said, “I must say this is among the greatest horses I've been proud enough to own. We won the Kentucky Derby in 1984 with a horse called Swale who was a great racehorse, but this horse has done a lot of special things that are hard to do. To win four Group 1s like this in such a short space of time and to look as grand as he does and to be gaining weight and not losing it is extraordinary.”

Jerome Reynier was understandably delighted with the effort of the runner-up, who is set to come back to England later in the year. “It's like a victory today,” he said. “We really thought he was going to beat Paddington, but he had the stands rail and we were in the middle of the track and he was stuck in the middle of traffic. He ran a great race, he was third in a Group 1 the other day and second today in a very nice group one and I hope the next time we will be able to win at that level.”

“We never thought he was going to be able to run that way, but he keeps improving mentally and physically so probably the best is yet to come,” Reynier added. “Fingers crossed, he will be coming back in good shape and we can aim for the Queen Elizabeth at the end of the year with him. There are two options beforehand–the Moulin de Longchamp or the Woodbine Mile in Canada. Maybe we will wait until his is a 5-year-old for an international campaign.”

Frankie Dettori said of Inspiral, “We tried, but it was very obvious that she doesn't cope with this kind of ground. If the ground dries up and she comes out of this race, we can back her up in the race she won in France last year. It was obvious what was going to happen–Paddington got a lead and everything his own way, but I had to make a race of it.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Paddington, who was bred and raised at Monceaux for the Wildensteins, achieved the joint-second-highest price of €420,000 at the 2021 Arqana October Sale. As far as Arc claims are concerned, his dam Modern Eagle stayed 12 1/2 furlongs on heavy ground when winning the Listed Prix Belle de Nuit and was also responsible for Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who stayed 14 furlongs when third in the 2020 Khor Al Adaid Cup at Doha.

Modern Eagle, a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), is also kin to Mighty Blue (Fr) by Montjeu's son Authorized (Ire) who was successful in the 14-furlong Listed Vintage Tipple S. and third in the two-mile G3 Loughbrown S. before going hurdling. The third dam is the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Moonlight Dance (Alysheba), whose other descendants include the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris scorer Ming Dynasty (Fr) (King's Best) and the G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}).

 

Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR SUSSEX S.-G1, £1,000,000, Goodwood, 8-2, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:47.16, sf.
1–PADDINGTON (GB), 129, c, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
                1st Dam: Modern Eagle (Ger) (SW-Fr), by Montjeu (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Millionaia (Ire), by Peintre Celebre
                3rd Dam: Moonlight Dance, by Alysheba
TDN Rising Star. (€420,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY). O-Tabor/Smith/
Magnier/Westerberg/Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (GB);
T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £567,100. Lifetime Record:
G1SW-Ire, 8-7-0-0, $2,082,332. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
   *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree,
   or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Facteur Cheval (Ire), 136, g, 4, Ribchester (Ire)–Jawlaat (Ire),
by Shamardal. (145,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; €120,000 Ylg '20
ARDEAY). O-Team Valor International LLC & Gary Barber;
B-McCracken Farms (IRE); T-Jerome Reynier. £215,000.
3–Charyn (Ire), 129, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by
Kodiac (GB). (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mr Nurlan
Bizakov; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £107,600.
Margins: 1HF, 3, HF. Odds: 0.44, 11.00, 40.00.
Also Ran: Aldaary (GB), Inspiral (GB). Scratched: Chindit (Ire). VIDEO.

 

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Making Waves: Monmouth Success For Kingman Filly

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by Startup Mentality, who won the Monmouth curtain-raiser on Haskell Day in Oceanport, New Jersey.

Kingman Filly Succeeds On Haskell Undercard

Klaravich Stables and Chad Brown teamed up to take the first race on GI Haskell S. day at Monmouth Park with Startup Mentality (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) (video).

A 300,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 yearling, the daughter of Fine Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}) was bred by Mountarmstrong Stud. The full-sister to fellow winner Night Battle (Ire) was making her first start, while her dam has fillies by Lope De Vega (Ire) and Night Of Thunder (Ire) born in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Fine Time is a full-sister to three stakes winners anchored by Group 1 winner Passage Of Time (GB), herself the dam of burgeoning young sire Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who won four group races and was second in the GI Manhattan S.; and a half-sister to G1 Falmouth S. heroine Timepiece (GB) (Zamindar).

Juddmonte's Kingman is the sire of several celebrated runners in the U.S., with a strike rate of 55% for 30 winners from 54 to race. His stakes winners stand at eight (15%) in that jurisdiction.

 

 

California Flair For Havana Grey Gelding

CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz and Michael Nentwig's Almendares (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) won his first start in the U.S. at Del Mar last weekend (video).

Originally a 16,000gns Tattersalls December foal, the D. R. Tucker-bred was picked up for 14,000gns as a Tattersalls October Book 3 yearling by Meadowview Stables. From five starts over Dundalk's all-weather surface, the relative of G1 July Cup heroine Fleeting Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) eked out two wins for Mrs. S Slattery and trainer Andrew Slattery. The Del Mar race for his new connections was his first in the U.S. Out of the winning Glace (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), Almendares has a juvenile, winning full-sister named Graceful Thunder (GB) and a yearling half-sister by Ardad (Ire).

A Champion First-Crop Sire in Britain and Ireland, Whitsbury Manor Stud's Havana Grey has sired two winners from four runners (50%) in the U.S. His Lady Hollywood (GB) was second in the Listed Limestone S. at Keeneland. Overall, he has 11 stakes winners worldwide, with Jasour (GB) leading his quintet of group winners.

 

 

Siyouni Filly Puts It All Together At The Spa

Qatar Racing and Leora Judah's Mise En Scene (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) won a Saratoga affair by a neck for trainer Brendan Walsh on Thursday afternoon (video).

Part of The Gadfly Partnership breeding programme, the G3 Prestige S. heroine also won the Listed John Musker Fillies S. for trainer James Ferguson when she raced in England. The relation of G1 Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches heroine Zellie (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has a Zoustar (Aus) 2-year-old half-sister.

The Aga Khan stallion Siyouni has sired 13 winners from 36 runners (36%) in the U.S. Four of that number are stakes winners (11%), and a trio have won at Grade III level–Sacred Life (Fr), La Signare (Fr), and Love And Thunder (Ire).

 

 

Eylara Shines At Del Mar

John McCormack's Eylara (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) won her first race in her fifth start in the U.S. at Del Mar for trainer Phil D'Amato on Thursday evening (video).

Bred by His Highness The Aga Khan's Studs, the 5-year-old daughter of the stakes-placed Eytarna (Ire) (Dubai Destination) won one of her six starts in Ireland for Dermot Weld in the green and red silks of her breeder, before being purchased for €350,000 at the Goffs November Sale by McCormack.

A half-sister to three black-type horses including five-time group winner Eziyra (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who was also placed at the top level in Ireland, Hong Kong and England, Eylara is also a half-sister to a yearling filly by Teofilo (Ire) and a weanling colt by Lucky Vega (Ire). Her second dam is blue-hen Ebaziya (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who produced a quartet of Group 1 winners.

Coolmore's Gleneagles has 10 winners from 17 runners (59%) in the U.S., including the GI Man o' War S. hero Highland Chief (Ire).

 

 

Honourable Mention

Featured in an earlier column, is Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}), who won the GII San Clemente S. on Saturday (video). Now the 10th stakes winner for her sire worldwide, she is his fifth group winner.

 

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Goffs November Foal Topper One Of The Highlights Of Orby Book 1 Catalogue

A strong catalogue of 543 yearlings, featuring a Kingman (GB) half-brother to Group 1 winner Skitter Scatter (Scat Daddy), will go under the hammer during Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale on Sept. 26-27.

The €550,000 foal, who counts GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. heroine Aspen Grove (Ire) (Justify) in his immediate family, will be offered as lot 313 by Stauffenberg Bloodstock. They will also offer a Masar (Ire) half-sister to G1 Deutsches Derby hero Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) as lot 373.

There are also a bevy of other siblings and half-siblings to Group 1 winners and Classic winners. Lot 48 is a Sea The Stars (Ire) half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner State Of Rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) offered by Tinnakill House Stud. That stallion is also responsible for a half-brother to G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero and sire Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) as lot 488; and a full-sister to top-level winner Shraaoh (Ire) is lot 434.

Kingman is the sire of lot 504, a half-brother to G1 2000 Guineas hero and sire Saxon Warrior (Jpn). There are also half-brothers to 2000 Guineas victor Poetic Flare (Ire)–by Camelot (GB) as lot 500–and a No Nay Never son of Many Colours (GB) (Green Desert), who is a half-brother to G1 1000 Guineas victress Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) (lot 498). The catalogue also boasts a full-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) (lot 356). The late, great Galileo (Ire) is represented by a pair of yearlings from his final crop in lot 269, a full-brother to Group 2 winner Delphi (Ire); and a colt out of Group 3 winner Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) is lot 179.

Lot 37 is a Night Of Thunder (Ire) half-sister to juvenile Group 1 winner and sire Lucky Vega (Ire); while lot 227 is a Wootton Bassett (GB) half-sister to G1 Prix Royal-Oak scorer Technician (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). There is also a Mehmas (Ire) colt who is a half-brother to Grade I winner Glorious Empire (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) as lot 409; and a Mehmas half-brother to G2 Coventry S. winner River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (lot 150).

The sale also features yearlings by stallions like Frankel (GB), Dubawi (Ire), Dark Angel (Ire), Kodiac (GB), Churchill (Ire), Lope De Vega (Ire), and Siyouni (Fr), among others.

Following Book 1, Goffs will host the Orby Book 2 Sale, formerly the Sportsman's Sale, from Sept. 28-29. All yearlings offered over the four days will be eligible for the new Goffs Two Million Series which offers a guaranteed minimum prize fund of €2 million exclusive to buyers at Goffs. The Two Million Series consists of Europe's Richest Two-Year-Old Race, the seven-furlong €1-million Goffs Million, on the eve of the 2024 sale at the Curragh and the €500,000 Goffs 500 over six furlongs, with prize-money available through 10th place. In addition, the Goffs €50,000 Bonus Series will see €50,000 bonuses paid to the winners of a diverse range of 2-year-old maidens on Irish racecourses throughout 2024.

Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “A stated ambition of Goffs is to attract more of the top tier Irish yearlings to Orby and we are thrilled to present two larger days of impeccable quality in Orby Book 1 following increased support from leading breeders.

“They have been persuaded by the massive international buying bench that attended last year's successful sale and the evolution of the Goffs Two Million Series which means that only Orby yearlings will compete for a massive €2 million next year.  We are eternally grateful to our vendors for we our nothing without their horses and are so excited to present this superb selection to global buyers.”

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‘It Would Be Very Tempting’: Cox Plate A Possibility For Paddington

by Trent Masenhelder/TTR AusNZ

Three-time Group 1 winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) is under consideration for the A$5-million G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Oct. 28, Coolmore's Tom Magnier revealed on Wednesday morning.

A winner of six of his seven starts in succession including the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 St James's Palace S., and G1 Eclipse earlier this year, the son of Modern Eagle (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}) holds a slew of entries at the top table in Europe, as well.

Speaking to RSN Racing And Sport, Magnier said of the Cox Plate possible, “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 3-year-old in Europe. Obviously, we've got Auguste Rodin that won the English Derby–he's a machine, but I was looking at Paddington and what he is doing is breathtaking. I don't know if anybody saw him running in the Coral-Eclipse the other day, the race Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}) was in… that was an unbelievable field and he just decimated them. 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.”

Magnier's comments coincide with the Moonee Valley Racing Club's (MVRC) announcement that the winner of next month's G1 Juddmonte International S. will be handed a 'golden ticket' into the Cox Plate.

Interestingly, the G1 Juddmonte International S., which will be run at York on Aug. 23, is a possible option for Paddington and his triple Group 1-winning stablemate Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).

“We're very keen to continue our great association with York Racecourse, and the winner of this year's race will be more than worthy of a place in the 2023 Ladbrokes Cox Plate,” MVRC's head of racing, Charlotte Mills, told TTR AusNZ.

Aidan O'Brien, who won the Cox Plate in 2014 with Adelaide (Ire), before his son Joseph was victorious in 2021 with State Of Rest (Ire), said the Cox Plate is a great stallion-making race.

“The Cox Plate has enormous prestige and is a very important race for a colt to win, especially for a potential dual-hemisphere stallion. We won it with Adelaide and more recently Joseph won it with State Of Rest. It is always a great race and a very prestigious race on the international calendar,” O'Brien said.

Previous winners of the Juddmonte International S. include Singspiel (Ire), Giant's Causeway, Falbrav (Ire), Frankel (GB), Sea The Stars (Ire) and Baaeed (GB). O'Brien is a five-time winner of the Juddmonte, with his most recent success being in 2019 when Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) scored under Ryan Moore.

The Juddmonte International S. becomes the third golden ticket race, joining the GI Saratoga Derby and G1 Takarazuka Kinen.

“We've been thrilled with the reception that we've had from the international jurisdictions for the international qualifiers; we're getting positive conversations and dialogue between trainers, jurisdictions and ourselves,” Mills added.

“Between Racing Victoria and the clubs here in Victoria, we are actively going out to recruit to ensure we're doing everything in our capacity to bring the best horses to Australia. With the best of our local horses and the opportunities to have international raiders, we want to present the best possible product on the day.

“To have a pioneer like Aidan O'Brien return, that would be a huge thrill for the club and for the race itself. We're certainly happy with the pace of interest we're receiving from international connections, and there are some domestic talents that we are working just as hard on, such as Amelia's Jewel (Aus) (Siyouni {Fr})–we want her in the race.”

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