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.
