Aidan O’Brien is poised to steal the spotlight on Qipco Champions Day at Ascot, as he unleashes Paddington in a bid for a bounce-back win in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over 1600m.
The three-year-old colt faced an unexpected setback in his last outing at York, where he faltered against Frankie Dettori’s commanding performance aboard Mostahdaf in the Juddmonte International.
This defeat, by a mere length and a quarter, brought an end to Paddington’s magnificent seven-race winning streak. However, there were mitigating circumstances, as O’Brien believed the colt was in dire need of a respite after an arduous schedule that included victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes, Eclipse, and Sussex Stakes.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, set to take place on a challenging flat track, is expected to test Paddington’s mettle. Nevertheless, considering his impressive performance in muddy conditions at Goodwood and his renewed vigor following a well-deserved break, this son of Siyouni appears more than capable of returning to the winner’s circle.
