Aidan O'Brien hails 'incredible' Paddington after becoming Royal Ascot's most successful trainer

He's done it. Aidan O'Brien is now the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history – and how fitting the record was smashed by a brand spanking new star of the mile division. Paddington is the name and winning Group 1s is his game. There could be plenty more to come, too. 

This was everything we need the St James's Palace Stakes to be. The winners of the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas going head to head and when Chaldean led into the home straight with Paddington poised to his outside, the stage was set for a compelling climax. 

Then Ryan Moore pressed go on Paddington between the two-furlong and furlong poles and within a few strides it was money for jam, or marmalade if you like. He was in a different league. 

Paddington certainly was not in the Premier League at Ballydoyle at the start of the season. He started off in a handicap of all things. He rocked up to Naas in late March off a mark of 97 and you could have got 6-4 about him winning it. Little did poor Mick Mulvaney, trainer of the 81-rated runner-up Duke Of Leggagh, know he had bumped into an extraordinary colt who could yet be the story of the season. 

From a handicap to a Listed race and on to the Irish 2,000 Guineas, Paddington progressed at a rapid rate. But this was something different; this was a procession; this is a serious colt. The legend who trains him believes him to be tremendously exciting and you just wonder how good he might be over a mile and a quarter.

Paddington has now won all four of his starts this seasonCredit: Edward Whitaker

The history-making O'Brien said: "He’s an incredible horse. He's very exciting, isn't he? John [Magnier] said to me that this horse would get further than a mile if you wanted him to, no problem. 

"The lads will have to think about whether they want to go to Goodwood for the Sussex Stakes next. We'll tell them after ten days how he is, and then they'll decide between themselves what they want to do. But he has all the options, because he has the speed to be a top miler. It's very exciting."

Paddington's path to stardom has been an unusual one and O'Brien explained why he started his three-year-old campaign in the Madrid Handicap that day at Naas. He said: "What we try in the spring is to get the horses out, but most of them are too high in the ratings to go for a handicap. 

"We go the route we can start them at for those that aren't and try to start as low as we can. The Madrid Handicap is always a good race, if you can get into it. He won his maiden nicely, but it mustn’t have been a brilliant maiden, and then he obviously got a nice mark. He didn’t win bolting up on the bridle or anything, he won nicely without being overly impressive."

O'Brien is never one to dwell on achievements. "It is special, particularly taking it over from such a special man in Sir Michael [Stoute]," he said of moving on to 83 royal winners. 

He was more keen to deflect the praise on to his team and, in particular, travelling head lad Pat Keating and Ryan Moore. "I always forget people after these races and one person I don't want to forget today is Pat Keating. He's there morning, noon and night travelling the horses."

On the masterful Moore, he added: "Ryan gave him a lovely ride. I thought he was excellent on him. He's an incredible rider and a total professional. He's getting better every year. He's mature, he's strong and he's a pleasure to work for."

Aidan O'Brien after Paddington's win in the St James's Palace StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Chaldean could not cope with Paddington but Frankie Dettori was not too despondent and said: "He's a super horse but found one too good today. He was a good second and it was a solid run."

Trainer Andrew Balding added: "He ran well but was beaten by a very good horse. Frankie felt he probably just overdid it a little early but not that that would have made a difference to the result probably, but he was just a bit weak at the end. They're two very high-class horses.”

They are indeed two high-class horses and the winning trainer isn’t too bad either. 

Pushed for more on his achievement, O’Brien replied: "We always look forward, we don't look back. When we go to bed tonight the day is over.” 

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