Irish 2000 Guineas report and replay: Paddington lands Classic

By David Ord

Horse Racing

Sun May 28, 2023 · 2y ago

Paddington led home an Aidan O'Brien one-two in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh.

A well-backed 3/1 chance, Ryan Moore's mount was always close to the pace being set by Hi Royal.

He was asked to tackle the leader approaching the furlong marker and soon had his measure, stablemate Cairo coming through for second without ever threatening to land a blow.

Hi Royal held on for third but Royal Scotsman, who had finished a place behind him when they hit the frame in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, failed to fire. He travelled well until the two furlong marker but failed to pick up for Jamie Spencer.

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Sky Bet cut the winner to 4/1 from 12s for the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. Paddy Power and Betfair are 5/2 from 12/1.

“We went to Ascot first time (at two) with him and he was very babyish. Then he came back and won a maiden very easily here with Seamus (Heffernan),” said O’Brien. “He wintered very well and we were very happy with him in the spring. He ended up in the Madrid (Handicap) on a lovely mark, it was a lovely place to start him as it was over seven furlongs, even though the ground was soft.

“Then he came back here and won the Tetrarch in soft ground again, so we weren’t really sure about the ground with him. Obviously he’s a Siyouni out of a Montjeu mare. He was always a beautiful mover but you are never sure until they do it. Seamus loved him the last day and he had been doing everything really nice since. He’s a fine, big horse and is maturing very well. He’s very good looking. He was a little bit slow away, but Ryan got his position very quickly on him and he didn’t light him up to do it. He’s a very exciting horse.”

When asked if the St James’ Palace could be next, he added: “What we always do is we go home and give them a week or 10 days and then the lads discuss it with Ryan and everyone else before deciding where they would like to go. That looks like the natural progression for him though, because he doesn’t look short of speed, even though he will get further in time.

"He missed the break and where he was, if he had stayed there it could have been a very dangerous position because he would have been at the mercy of the race. Ryan went out with the mindset that he’d ride his own horse and it didn’t matter where anyone else was going to be, he was going to be happy to make the running or do whatever. He had great confidence in him but that split second decision when he made that move very quickly to have that position, without lighting up the horse, made all the difference. He travelled like a dream and when he asked him he did quicken, but he’s still a little bit of a baby and he probably would have learned a lot today quickening on that ground.”

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