Aidan O’Brien’s St James’s Palace Stakes winner PADDINGTON has to take the place of the older generations and prove that he is the best miler in Europe in the 1600m G1 Sussex Stakes.
Ballydoyle star a match for the best
PADDINGTON cemented his position as the best 3YO miler at 1600m by running away with the G1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and Aidan O’Brien’s improving colt could put his credentials on the line against the best of the older brigade in the Sussex Stakes. PADDINGTON, who began the season winning a handicap, has gone from strength to strength since, taking the Irish 2000 Guineas en-route to a brilliant three and three-quarter length demolition of English 2000 Guineas Stakes winner CHALDEAN on the round course at Ascot and putting the older generations to the sword in the G1 Eclipse Stakes. He’ll need to be every inch the star if he is to see off the likes of top-class filly INSPIRAL and the G1 Queen Anne Stakes hero TRIPLE TIME, amongst his potential opposition, but the son of SIYOUNI just keeps on improving and he’s going to be hard to stop once again.
GOLDEN MIND (Yellow silk), third finished of the Chesham Stakes, sets sight on his first group race winner in the G2 Vintage Stakes.
Royal Ascot rising star out for more honour
The 1409m G2 Vintage Stakes is often a stage for some of the leading 2YO performers from Royal Ascot to resume battle. The Listed 1400m Chesham Stakes winners in Royal Ascot such as HOLLOWAY BOY, BATTLEGROUND and PINATUBO had either won or been placed in the Vintage Stakes. Although this year’s Chesham Stakes one-two SNELLEN and PEARLS AND RUBIES both are not on the final declaration list of the Vintage Stakes, the third finisher GOLDEN MIND will pair up with Frankie Dettori to fight for the title. The 2YO colt ran three-quarters of length after SNELLEN. With Frankie’s strong hands this time, a group race winner seems on it’s way.
GOLDEN MIND (Yellow silk), third finished of the Chesham Stakes, sets sight on his first group race winner in the G2 Vintage Stakes.
Richard Hannon who holds good record in the G2 Richmond Stakes has a strong hand this year with HAATEM.
Coventry Stakes could provide key form clues
Trends aren’t so clear when it comes to the 1200m G2 Richmond Stakes but two of the last four winners ran well in defeat in the G2 Coventry Stakes earlier that season which points to a big performance from the likes of ARMY ETHOS, HAATEM or BOBSLEIGH, should they turn up for the juvenile feature. HAATEM, in particular, would be of strong interest given his trainer Richard Hannon’s good record in the race. Hannon has won it twice since 2014 while his father won it four times between 2008 and 2011.
