Tag Archive for: Paddington

Paddington earns his crust in Tetrarch win

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Paddington further strengthened Aidan O’Brien’s formidable Classic hand with a clear-cut success in the Coolmore Stud Blackbeard Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh.

A five-length winner of a maiden at the track last season, the Siyouni colt kicked off the current campaign with victory in the Madrid Handicap at Leopardstown, earning him a step up in class for a Listed race his trainer had not won for 20 years.

With Seamie Heffernan in the saddle, the 5-6 favourite travelled like the best horse in the race for much of the one-mile contest and picked up well once popped the question to score by a length and a half from stablemate Drumroll, who also shaped with plenty of promise on only his second career start.

The winner was taken out of Saturday’s Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before Monday’s confirmation stage, but his big-race entries do include the Irish Guineas and the French Guineas, as well as the Dante Stakes at York and the Derby at Epsom.

O’Brien said: “He came forward lovely from Naas. He won his maiden very easy last year and everyone has been delighted with him at home.

“He won the three-year-old handicap at Naas over seven furlongs and this was his first step up to a mile. We thought that he’d get it and that he could even get further.

“He’d have the option of going to the French Guineas or the Irish Guineas and then he could end up being a French Derby horse after that.

“He handles the ground well, he’s by Siyouni out of a Montjeu mare so should handle it on both sides. We’re delighted with him.”

Paddington completed a Listed race double on the card for the O’Brien-Heffernan combination, with 5-2 shot His Majesty earlier making a winning debut in the GAIN First Flier Stakes.

His Majesty and Seamie Heffernan on their way to victory
His Majesty and Seamie Heffernan on their way to victory (Damien Eagers/PA)

O’Brien is hopeful the son of No Nay Never can earn himself a place on his team for Royal Ascot.

“He did it lovely. He’s a lovely, big, sleepy horse,” he said.

“Seamus said he had loads of speed but he was relaxed, he said when he clicked he found plenty. He’s like a four-year-old, a big mature horse.

“You always try to get two runs before Ascot but it’s hard enough to do it here because there aren’t many races. It’s a big advantage if you can. Wherever we can get him out again, we’ll try.”

Do It with Style draws clear at the Curragh
Do It with Style draws clear at the Curragh (Damien Eagers/PA)

Aidan’s son Donnacha O’Brien also has the Royal meeting in mind for Do It With Style (3-1) after her successful introduction in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden under Gavin Ryan.

“We thought she was smart. I was a little bit worried about the ground, she’ll be better on better ground, but it was nice to see her do that,” said the trainer.

“I’ll speak to the owners and see but I suppose the Albany Stakes could definitely be an option.”

Former Classic-winning jockey Micky Fenton celebrated his first winner as a trainer when Run Forest Run (8-1) came from the clouds to win the Keadeen Hotel Handicap under Jamie Powell.

“Jamie got to know him after a few rides which was a big help. It’s taken a while to work out how he has to be ridden,” said Fenton.

“It’s brilliant, the Curragh has always been lucky for me. I’ve always had a few winners here when I was a jockey. It’s good to come back and train one here, I can’t believe it really.

“My wife Stephanie led it up as well, we’re only a small stable. We have nine in at the moment and it’s our first full year. I’m based near Mallow.

When asked how this compared to riding winners he said: “ It’s completely different, it’s a big buzz. A dream come true really.”

Aidan O’Brien out to scratch Tetrarch itch

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It has been 20 years since Aidan O’Brien has tasted success in the Coolmore Stud Blackbeard Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes, but the master of Ballydoyle holds a strong hand as Classic credentials will be put to the test at the Curragh on Monday.

O’Brien has won this contest – which often serves as a stepping stone to the Irish 2,000 Guineas – five times in the past and saddles two this year in the form of Paddington and Drumroll.

Both have found the scoresheet already this term with Paddington winning a handicap over seven furlongs on his seasonal return while Drumroll, a brother to 2000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior, won over a mile in heavy going on his debut at Navan

Winning connections with Paddington at Naas
Winning connections with Paddington at Naas (Brian Lawless/PA)

O’Brien said: “Paddington won over seven last time and he’s only ever run over seven to date. This is a step up to a mile so we’ll learn a lot more about him.

“We’ve been very happy with him since his first run.

“Drumroll won over a mile in heavy ground and he looked like a horse who will stay further

“We just felt we needed to get more experience into him and learn a little bit about him.

“We thought he was ready to start before his debut but we weren’t really sure what he was going to do. We had been happy with him at home, though.

Jessica Harrington’s Bold Discovery is another who heads to post for the Listed contest, stepping up to a mile having finished second to Ballydoyle’s Hans Andersen at Leopardstown on reappearance.

Bold Discovery (centre) chased home Hans Andersen at Leopardstown last time
Bold Discovery (centre) chased home Hans Andersen at Leopardstown last time (Niall Carson/PA)

“We hope he will be competitive,” said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager for owner Mark Chan.

“It’s a big day as it will tell what level you are at. He’s highly rated and long term we hope he will be a really nice horse.”

Before that the two-year-old speedsters will get to showcase their precociousness in the GAIN First Flier Stakes.

The race was won by Blackbeard 12 months ago and this time O’Brien is represented by debutants Unquestionable and His Majesty – the latter, like Blackbeard, a son of No Nay Never.

However, it could be Adrian Murray who holds all the aces as he saddles both the exciting Amo Racing-owned Bucanero Fuerte and intriguing newcomer Valiant Force.

“It’s a nice step for Bucanero Fuerte from his maiden so hopefully now he will step forwards,” said Murray.

“He has come on well since his debut, he will have improved plenty. He was quite green that day and he will be a good bit smarter and better.”

On Valliant Force he added: “He looks a real nice horse. He looks a fair tool. You don’t know until you run them, but on his homework he looks nice.”

William Haggas’ Queen Aminatu will attempt a bank holiday raid on the Coolmore Stud Circus Maximus Irish EBF Athasi Stakes.

Owned by Derby and Arc-winning owner-breeder Anthony Oppenheimer, the four-year-old was last seen plundering a huge pot at Newcastle on All-Weather Championships Finals Day and will now attempt to extend her winning run to four returning to turf.

The opposition for the UK raider includes the likes of Paddy Twomey’s Sceptre Stakes winner Just Beautiful and Henry de Bromhead’s Star Girls Aalmal.

Paddington more likely to represent O’Brien in Craven than Cairo

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Recent Naas winner Paddington may represent Aidan O’Brien in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.

The Siyouni colt carried a big weight to victory to win the Madrid Handicap on his return to action and is on course to step up in class for the Guineas trial.

O’Brien also has Cairo entered, last seen finishing well down the field in the UAE Derby on dirt. But soft ground has made him a very unlikely runner.

“We left in two and I’m not sure as the ground has gone soft. Paddington is the one that might run. It might be a step too quick, but he’s in and we are thinking about it,” said O’Brien.

“Cairo would have been a possible only the ground has gone soft. He’s fine and just didn’t face the dirt over in Dubai.”

O’Brien currently houses two of the ante-post favourites for the 2000 Guineas in Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear and both are due to step up their work shortly.

“It’s so far, so good with the Guineas horses,” said the Ballydoyle handler.

“Little Big Bear is a quick horse and has not been asked to do a lot. His work will get more serious over the next few weeks.”

Paddington books Classic trial ticket

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Aidan O’Brien is eyeing a Classic trial as a next port of call for Paddington following an impressive display in the Irish Racing Writers Carmel Kirwan And Loretta O’Hanlon Memorial Madrid Handicap at Naas.

Fifth on his Ascot debut in September before winning comfortably on his final juvenile start at the Curragh the following month, the Siyouni colt was the 6-4 favourite to make a successful reappearance over seven furlongs at Naas.

With Ryan Moore having hotfooted it back from Dubai to take the ride, Paddington travelled strongly for much of the contest and was pushed out to score by a length and three-quarters.

Ryan Moore and Aidan O'Brien with Paddington at Naas
Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien with Paddington at Naas (Brian Lawless/PA)

O’Brien said: “I’m very happy with him. He won very nice the last day and handled an ease in the ground. He probably will stay further.

“He will go into a trial now, maybe one of the French trials, to give him more experience.”

The Ballydoyle handler doubled up in the Dubawi Legend Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, but it was his apparent second string Jackie Oh who claimed top honours.

Red Riding Hood, second at Ascot on her introduction, was all the rage under Moore as the 4-6 favourite, but newcomer Jackie Oh – a daughter of Galileo out of Jacqueline Quest – proved too strong.

Of the 4-1 winner, O’Brien added: “She’s a very well-bred filly and handled the ground. She had a few holds ups last year and didn’t get to run. You would have to be delighted with her.

“She will go for a trial and I’d say she will get a bit further as well.”

The Listed Plusvital Devoy Stakes went the way of 9-2 shot Visualisation for Joseph O’Brien and Declan McDonogh.

The five-year-old was last of seven when last seen in action in the Group Three International Stakes at the Curragh in June, but bounced back to form in some style on his return – with a length and three-quarters separating him and the runner-up Sunchart.

Visualisation was a clear-cut winner of the Devoy Stakes
Visualisation was a clear-cut winner of the Devoy Stakes (Brian Lawless/PA)

The 2-1 favourite Martinstown finished last of eight.

“He loves heavy ground. Last year he didn’t get much of it and he had a little setback in the season as well,” said the winning trainer.

“He’s come back in really good nick and Declan gave him a great ride. He said there was a strip of ground that he thought was the best of it when he got on it and that was a help.

“He’s in the Alleged Stakes and we’ll keep him busy while the ground is heavy. He’ll probably have a bit of time off in the summer and come back for the autumn.”

Michael O’Callaghan has high hopes for Red Letter Bray (2-1) following his victory in the Kuroshio At Compas Stallions Maiden.

Sixth behind the top-class Auguste Rodin on his only previous outing last summer, the son of New Bay confirmed that promise with a short head verdict over 11-8 favourite Run Ran Run – providing champion jockey Colin Keane with his first winner of the new turf season in Ireland.

“He’s a nice horse and we have always liked him,” said O’Callaghan.

“He’s pulled a shoe quite badly and Colin thinks he might have done it coming out of the gates and that’s why he was just a little bit awkward at the end.

“He’s pretty straightforward at home and Colin thought he’ll get an extra furlong. He was quite green and needed the company when he got it.

“I had in the back of my mind that he could be a horse for the seven-furlong Guineas Trial at Leopardstown but it might be a bit soon and he could need some time to get over today with the deep ground and everything. I can see him stepping up to that level.”

Magical Vision (right) gets up to claim victory
Magical Vision (right) gets up to claim victory (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Aidan Howard-trained Magical Vision (6-1) picked up where she left off in the Compas Stallions Handicap.

The six-year-old, who did not make her debut until last season, won at Navan and Naas in the autumn and completed her hat-trick on her first start in almost five months, knuckling down to get the better of Mickey The Steel by a head under Chris Hayes.

Howard said: “She did what I was hoping she would do. She has loads of gears and loves the ground.

“We’ll probably look for something similar in a couple of weeks because she isn’t going to handle summer ground.”

Sendo Square justified 5-2 favouritism in the Far Above At Compas Stallions Handicap for trainer Andrew Slattery and his son and rider of the same name, while Fozzy Stack’s Chazzesmee readily obliged as the 11-8 favourite in the King Of Change Handicap, with Mark Enright the winning jockey.