By Brian Sheerin
Day one done and dusted and it's hard to imagine that there will be a more impressive Group 1 winner than Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) at Royal Ascot this week.
The manner in which he swept aside the Guineas hero Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the St James's Palace S. was something to behold. So, too, has been the progression the colt has put in this season.
Paddington reappeared to win the prestigious Madrid Handicap at Naas off just 97 and shares something in common with fellow Aidan O'Brien-trained Group 1 winners Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and Treasure Beach (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) in that he cut his teeth in handicaps before recording top-notch successes.
It's fascinating to see how far Paddington has come in such a short space of time and it will be even more interesting to predict where he might end up this season.
He has given a strong indication that he will be even better over further and his pedigree would back that up being by Siyouni and out of a Montjeu (Ire) mare.
Connections must be thinking about stepping Paddington up to 10 furlongs in time, with races like the Coral-Eclipse and possibly even the Irish Champion S. the most obvious races for him if they lean that way.
His success on Tuesday carried added significance given O'Brien became the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history after he crossed the winning line.
O'Brien's tally at the royal meeting now stands at 83 winners. He is just 53 years old. Like Paddington, there will be a lot more to come.
River Tiber An Important Winner
The Coventry has a tendency to throw up the odd forgettable winner every now and again. In fact, no winner of the race has gone on to land a Classic since the 2012 scorer Dawn Approach (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who remained unbeaten at two and landed the following year's 2,000 Guineas for Jim Bolger.
Few would bet against River Tiber (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) charting a similar path and he could be the horse to bridge that Classic gap for the Coventry and something like the Dewhurst would look to be an obvious target for the colt this term.
“Different class,” is how Ryan Moore described the winner, and that is as good a summary as any for a horse who took over from long-time leader Givemethebeatboys (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) deep inside the last furlong before putting almost two lengths between that rival and then holding the late flourish of the runner-up [Army Ethos (GB) (Shalaa {Ire})].
It was a performance of some substance, and one that earned River Tiber his position at the head of the betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas, for which he can be backed at odds of 10-1.
The win provided Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending 10th Coventry success, which makes the master of Ballydoyle the most successful trainer in the race's history, but an even bigger subplot to emerge from River Tiber winning was how Coolmore's investment in Wootton Bassett is beginning to pay off.
The Coventry was a big race for the stallion given Amo Racing's Bucanero Fuerte (GB) also ran a huge race to fill the placings back in third on just his second career start.
O'Brien touched on how excited he is about the progeny of the stallion, and rightly so, judging by the early accomplishments of Wootton Bassett at Coolmore.
Bradsell Pays Big Compliment To Bear
Speaking of the Coventry, last year's winner Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}) ensured that the words forgettable will never apply to him when he clung on to land a dramatic edition of the G1 King's Stand S.
Much of the chat about Friday's Commonwealth Cup has revolved around Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never), who had Bradsell confined to the rear-view mirror at Haydock last month.
Between O'Brien's fantastic start to the royal meeting and Bradsell providing the form with a major boost, one should expect that Little Big Bear won't go off the colour of the 13-8 that is on offer right now.
Worth Forgiving Sub-Par Efforts
For a nation that supposedly doesn't have any good sprinters, Britain didn't do too badly by sending out the first 10 home in the King's Stand.
Indeed, there were genuine excuses for the Australian runners Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) and Cannonball (Aus) (Capitalist {Aus}) given the rain that fell beforehand would not have played to their strengths.
It should also be noted that Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), last year's Queen Mary winner and a well-backed 7-2 chance before the off, can be forgiven for failing to get involved after racing alone on the stand's side rail with Cannonball.
Melbourne Cup Could Be Calling For Vauban
Willie Mullins has been talking about the Melbourne Cup for Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) even before the gelding won the Triumph Hurdle last year.
Connections came desperately close to winning the race in 2015 with Max Dynamite (Fr) (Great Journey {Jpn}) and in Vauban, hugely impressive in landing the Copper Horse Handicap, they could well realise the dream.
Three Cheers For Brilliant Broodmare Reem Three
How good is Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire})? A three-time winner and listed placed when in training with Luca Cumani, she now boasts three Royal Ascot winners as a broodmare after the success of the aptly-named Triple Time (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G1 Queen Anne S.
Reem Three had already supplied Wokingham winner Cape Byron and Britannia scorer Ostilio, not to mention Ajman Princess finishing second in the Ribblesdale. A tremendous record.
A Mare In Foal An Unstoppable Force? Henderson Thinks So
Ascot Stakes winner Ahorsewithnoname (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) will soon be off to the paddocks after connections of the Nicky Henderson-trained mare revealed that she was in foal to Cracksman (GB).
There are some who swear that mares running in foal improve their performance, but it's almost impossible to prove it makes that much of a difference if any at all.
One thing's for certain, Ahorsewithnoname's career-best performance was a timely one, and Henderson was left convinced that getting the mare covered in the spring played an integral part in the Royal Ascot success.
He explained, “It definitely changed her. She's just much sharper. She used to be much more relaxed at home but when she came back from [being covered in] Newmarket, it certainly woke her up a bit. It's been a tried and tested route but you can only do it once. You've got 90 days–so, as I say, you can only do it once.
“We're pretty sure it had an effect. Now, with some, it might have the opposite effect. They might go all dreamy and sleepy and mummy. There's no doubt [it worked].”
Of course, Ahorsewithnoname is not the only mare to have recorded successes at the royal meeting whilst in foal.
Credit to Kevin Blake on Sky Sports Racing for the knowledge, but Indian Queen (GB) (Electric I {GB}) was also in foal when storming to her Gold Cup win in 1991.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
