Aidan O’Brien stole the show on day one of Royal Ascot as he became the meeting’s most successful trainer on a disappointing afternoon for jockey Frankie Dettori. Market favourite Chaldean looked set to sprinkle a little Frankie Factor across Berkshire in the St James’s Palace Stakes, but it was the O’Brien-trained Paddington who ruled supreme.
Despite racing three-wide on the bend, Ryan Moore powered the fast-improving Paddington clear on the straight to hand O’Brien his 83rd meeting win, taking him clear of Sir Michael Stoute. Dettori, riding in his final Royal Ascot, had earlier finished as runner up in the Queen Anne Stakes before being usurped two furlongs from home in the Tuesday showpiece.
“He’s very exciting,” said O’Brien, on the ever-improving Paddington. “The lads always said that this horse would get further than a mile if you wanted him to, no problem.
“The unusual thing is he is able to quicken. He’s very easy to get a position - Ryan gave him a beautiful ride, because he was out there and he knew it was going to be tacky, and obviously when Frankie is in front it is always very dangerous, but Ryan gave him a masterful ride.
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“He didn’t panic, and produced him and quickened. He is able to quicken very well and that is the big thing, and what makes good horses great.”
Following Paddington’s emphatic victory, and first overseas, attention turns to what comes next for the three-year-old, who has taken an unusual path to Classic glory.
“The lads will have to think about whether they want to go to Goodwood for the Sussex Stakes,” added O’Brien. “We will tell them after 10 days how he is, and then they will decide between themselves what they want to do. But he has all the options, because he has the speed to be a top miler, like we see, so it’s very exciting.”
Trainer O’Brien earlier drew level with Stoute after River Tiber edged a thrilling renewal of the Coventry Stakes – a record-extending 10th race triumph for the Irishman. The favourite was made to work for Group 2 glory, with Givemethebeatboys and Dettori tracking throughout before outsider Army Ethos launched a late assault.
“You could see him through the first part of the race today he was going very easily, Ryan had him in a lovely position,” said O’Brien. “You need the best horse to win the Coventry. You never expect to have any winner here, that’s the truth.
“It’s a relief and I’m so delighted for everyone because everyone places so much on this week through the whole year.”
Jockey Hollie Doyle was not to be denied her share of history on Tuesday, as she became the first female to saddle a Group 1 winner. Britain’s leading female jockey partnered Bradsell to victory in the King’s Stand Stakes, surviving a steward’s inquiry after the 14-1 winner drifted left towards runner-up and favourite Highfield Princess.
The first meeting since the death of Queen Elizabeth II passed without delay after activists Animal Rising said they would not disrupt proceedings. The action continues on day two with O’Brien once again well placed to claim Group 1 success with favourite Luxembourg in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.
