By Sean Cronin
Aidan O'Brien trainee Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}–Modern Eagle {Ger}, by Montjeu {Ire}) failed to land a telling blow over seven furlongs at Ascot in his Sept. 2 debut last time, but made light work of Thursday's Bill Hanlon Memorial Irish EBF Maiden over the same distance at the Curragh to earn a 'TDN Rising Star' with a taking five-length breakthrough at the Co. Kildare venue.
Having already made a splash as the joint-second highest-priced lot when realising €420,000 at last year's Arqana October sale, the 16-5 favourite broke smartly and stalked the pace set by stablemate Carracci (Quality Road) through halfway. Tanking to the front approaching the quarter-mile marker, he quickened in stylish fashion to go clear entering the final furlong and kept on powerfully in the latter stages to easily outclass Rochester Mike (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by five lengths.
“I'm delighted with him,” O'Brien said. “We were disappointed with him in Ascot, where he was very green, so we gave him a bit of time. He's a horse that always showed a little bit of class. If the [G3] Killavullan was another week later he could have come back [for one more run this year]. He could start [next season] in a [2000] Guineas trial and then we'll see with him.”
Paddington, a half to the dual stakes-placed Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), is the latest of four foals out of Listed Prix Belle de Nuit victrix Modern Eagle (Ger) (Montjeu {Ire}), herself kin to stakes-winning G3 Loughbrown S. second Mighty Blue (Fr) (Authorized {Ire}) produced by G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre). Millionaia is a daughter of G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Moonlight Dance (Alysheba) and thus a half-sister to G1 Dewhurst S. runner-up Fencing Master (GB) (Oratorio {Ire}), G3 Prix Perth second Memory Maker (Ire) (Lure) and to the dam of G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris victor Ming Dynasty (Fr) (King's Best). Descendants of Moonlight Dance also include G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}).
1st-Curragh, €16,500, Mdn, 10-13, 2yo, 7fT, 1:29.99, yl/sf.
PADDINGTON (GB), c, 2, by Siyouni (Fr)
1st Dam: Modern Eagle (Ger) (SW-Fr), by Montjeu (Ire)
2nd Dam: Millionaia (Ire), by Peintre Celebre
3rd Dam: Moonlight Dance, by Alysheba
(€420,000 Ylg '21 ARQOCT). O-Tabor, Smith, Magnier, Westerberg, Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $9,607. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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