02 August 2023 , 15:54
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Aidan O’Brien had a former member of his staff uppermost in his thoughts after the extraordinary Paddington captured the Qatar Sussex Stakes on Wednesday.
The Ballydoyle trainer watched his new ‘Iron Horse’ gain his fourth Group 1 success in a row at Goodwood.
Giant’s Causeway, the original ‘Iron Horse’, won the St James’s Palace, Eclipse, Sussex, Juddmonte International and Irish Champion Stakes in an extraordinary streak in 2000.
Paddington could be on the same schedule after he made all the running to repel Facteur Cheval by a length and a half in the rain.
He is already one victory ahead of Giant’s Causeway who finished second in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, but O’Brien wanted to address Willie O’Gorman’s loss before talking about his latest champion.
Housebound ex-serviceman enjoys special window visit from physio's horse
“One of the most special people who ever worked in Ballydoyle, Willie O’Gorman, passed away this morning,” he told ITV Racing. “To Brigid and all his family, our thoughts are with them.”
Paddington, whose regular work rider is legendary former jump jockey Adrian Maguire, could now take in the next leg of Giant’s Causeway’s schedule at York when he would move back up from 1m to an extended 1m2f.
“He’s much quicker than the Giant was. He’s tactically quick and can quicken as well. The Giant was tactically quick and was dour after that.
“This horse can really turn it on when you really have to on all types of ground. He’s very unique. He could go to York, he could do anything. He’s very special.
“Every race he is getting heavier, which is unusual, and he’s getting calm and he’s getting quick.”