RACE REPLAY BELOW ARTICLE
Paddington made it a brilliant six from six for the season with a dominant front-running victory in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
The Siyouni colt has not looked back since making a successful start to his campaign in a handicap at Leopardstown, winning a Listed race at the Curragh, the Irish 2,000 Guineas, and the St James’s Palace Stakes before successfully stepping up to 10 furlongs in the Coral-Eclipse.
Dropping back to a mile, Aidan O’Brien’s teak-tough three-year-old was the 4-9 favourite to make light of testing conditions and controlled matters from flag-fall in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Three-time Group One-winning filly Inspiral was the first of his challengers to throw down a challenge, but her effort was short-lived and in the end, it was French raider Facteur Cheval who emerged as the biggest threat.
But try as he might, he could never quite get on terms with Paddington, who had matters well in control as he passed the post with a length and a half in hand.
The winner was emulating former Ballydoyle great Giant’s Causeway by completing the St James’s Palace, Coral-Eclipse, Sussex Stakes treble.
The ‘Iron Horse’, as he was affectionately known, went on to add the Juddmonte International at York to his CV 23 years ago.
O'Brien said: He's a very special horse. We were worried about the ground - even though he'd won on it, it wasn't in this class of race and Ryan rode him for speed. He was over the moon with him and we're so lucky to have him.
"I'm so delighted for the lads, he's a very special horse.
"We'll do whatever the lads want to do. He's much quicker than Giant's Causeway was, he's tactically quick, but he can quicken as well. 'The Giant' was tactically quick, but he was a grinder after that.
"This horse can really turn it on when you have to, he's very unique. It will depend on what the lads want to do and we'll talk to them after a week."
Paddington's next stop is almost certain to be the Knavesmire on August 23.
