Aidan O’Brien is not doing well in recent years. It has been six years since winning the British trainers’ championship. Also, he finished in ninth place last season, the poorest performance for years. However, it looks like 2023 is when his stable will make a comeback. Paddington gave him his seventh Eclipse Stakes win.
According to horse betting sites, Paddington began the season in handicaps. Also, he is currently O’Brien’s trump card among his stable’s three-year-old colts.
Paddington is undefeated in five races this season. Also, his win in the Eclipse Stakes is his third straight Group One victory. According to betting odds experts, Paddington held off Emily Upjohn. In addition, the win came less than three weeks after his victory in the St James’ Palace Stakes.
Paddington Achieves Eclipse Stakes Win
Paddington faced a formidable foe in Emily Upjohn in his first race against older horses and his first race beyond a mile. However, after being sent into the lead by Ryan Moore two furlongs from the finish, Paddington stayed on strongly and always looked to have the measure of John Gosden’s filly. Paddington was a half-length ahead of her at the finish line, while West Wind Blows was sixth back in third. Moore speculated after the fact that the four-horse race in the center of the track had not been a good fit for Paddington.
Paddington’s recent string of Group One victories has drawn comparisons to Giant’s Causeway, the 2000 Eclipse winner, and Rock Of Gibraltar. O’Brien has been surprised by his colt’s insatiable desire to compete and rapid development as a racehorse.
Paddington is still in the running for the International Stakes at York later this month. Also, one of the important horse racing events, the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, will occur on August 2. The seven-figure prize money in both races would be a significant boon to O’Brien’s championship hopes.
