This was a day to gamble. Aidan O’Brien admitted the ‘lads’ had wanted to see if crack three-year-old Paddington could stay 10 furlongs – and against older opponents – for the first time.
It was also a punt to know the appropriate attire, with oppressive humidity coupled with band of slow-moving showers meaning it was 10-11 each of two for shirt-sleeves and straw hats making way for raincoats and trilbies.
The rain set in an hour and a half before racing, with the resulting two millimetres not enough to spoil perfect summer racing ground.
It could have been an uncomfortable afternoon too, for the sponsors. Although far from vintage numerically, with just four runners, this was still a test for punters and equines alike.
It only takes two to make a good horse race and the big two did not disappoint.
Paddington had carried all before him, winning an Irish 2,000 Guineas before proving himself the best mile Classic winner with a thoroughly conclusive defeat of Newmarket victor Chaldean in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
O’Brien initially hinted the Siyouni colt would head to Goodwood for the Sussex Stakes, yet the temptation to take on top four-year-old filly Emily Upjohn, in receipt of a 7lb weight concession, was too great to pass up.
Gamble though this was, especially just 18 days after his Ascot romp, Coolmore’s breeding empire could add a nought to the end of his stallion fee by winning top-class 10-furlong races.
A bundle of eager, brown muscle in the paddock, the 8-11 favourite looked even better in his coat than he had at Ascot, if that was at all possible, and that translated into a wonderful display of patience and power.
Ryan Moore took a tow from West Wind Blows, hit the front soon enough in the straight and fended off proven stayer Emily Upjohn after a rip-roaring duel to prevail by half a length.
Paddington is now the winner of six of his seven races, his sole defeat coming on his debut at Ascot last September.
It may have been an expected and record seventh win in the race for the trainer, but Paddington keeps surprising him.
“We thought he was a very good horse the first time he went to Ascot when he was a baby. We gave him a lot of time then to recover and he won very impressively at the Curragh in a maiden,” said O’Brien.
“We decided to leave him alone and let him winter and start him in as low a grade as we could start him and that’s what we did.
“But I suppose the surprising thing about him is the progress he is making from race to race. He is getting more confident, he is getting stronger mentally and physically.
“He is getting more professional and it is amazing what he is doing. We didn’t intend on coming here, but he was a lot heavier today, two weeks after running at Ascot, which is very unusual.
“He came out of Ascot in a very unusual good way.
“There are always outliers, there are always special horses – that is the way it is. There is no rule, because horses do different things, but it is very surprising what he is doing.”
O’Brien is surrounded by those with impeccable instincts, men not averse to risk taking. Michael Tabor (owner of Victor Chandler), Derrick Smith (former trading director for Ladbrokes), Joe Lewis (currency trader) and John Magnier, Coolmore owner, a genius who always backs his bloodstock judgement.
O’Brien is the steady hand on the tiller and you now have to dig deep to the lint at the bottom the bag of superlatives to find a new way to laud his remarkable talent.
Right on cue, the sun then made an appearance as O’Brien admitted it was something of a gamble to run Paddington in his third top-level race so fleetingly.
“Everything is a gamble. Every day you run is a gamble with these horses. When you find those type of horses, what the lads try to do is expose them, because their job is to breed racehorses and supply mares to them.
“They want to expose them with all their flaws, all their strengths. Every year they do that more and more. They don’t protect the way they used to. They want to see what they are able and not able to do.
“I admire them for that. I suppose the big thing is they love their racing and the racing is rising above everything else now. They love going racing, they love planning and they love thinking about those horses and it’s gone more of a love and a passion with then now than it has ever been before, for me. I can’t tell you how passionate they are about racing.”
O’Brien has now eclipsed Alec Taylor Jr and and Sir Michael Stoute as the trainer with the most wins in the Group One contest, which he first won with Giant’s Causeway in 2000.
“He is a lot quicker than Giant’s Causeway. His constitution is amazing too,” said the Ballydoyle handler.
“Giant always ran at the same weight but this horse is getting heavier. So, obviously, physically, he is doing very well. He has surprised us so much with every run.
“Seamus (Heffernan) rides him work every day and the last day he rode him, he got off and couldn’t talk. When those fellas who are riding that many horses and are getting that way, it just takes you back a little bit.
“I try not to delve into it too much, because I try not to get everyone thinking about what could be too much, so we just go on quick, to the next one, the next day. There is something very different happening.
“It was different today with the way he hit the gates and the way he travelled. With the ease he got to the front and when he got to the front, he knew he’d gone professional and he knew he’d won his race. Obviously for us it is very exciting.”
Supreme Ventures Racing urges review of racing rule after Caymanas Park abandonments
Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), operators of Caymanas Park, have called for a review of Rule 44 (iii) enforced by the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) following the cancellation of two races during the April 27 race meet at Caymanas Park.
In a press conference on Monday addressing the abandoned races, SVREL Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe expressed frustration with the rule, highlighting its potential impact on the racing industry.
"This rule, unique to Jamaica, imposes a strict five-minute limit after the published post time for races at Caymanas Park," Sharpe stated. "It fails to account for various factors that can delay race starts and penalizes all stakeholders when races are abandoned, affecting punters, jockeys, grooms, trainers, owners, promoters, and the government."
Last year, Caymanas Park contributed over $260 million in combined taxes to the government's coffers. Sharpe urged the JRC to engage SVREL in discussions on Rule 44, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue to address the rule's impact.
"We were not consulted during the initial discussions on this rule, and now, with two races abandoned in a single race day, our concerns have materialized," Sharpe explained. "SVREL is open to collaborating with the JRC to review and refine this amended rule."
Representatives from the Grooms Association, Jockeys Association, and the United Racehorse Trainers Association echoed SVREL's concerns and supported the call for a review of Rule 44.
Sharpe concluded by appealing to regulators, stakeholders, and the public to support the growth of the horseracing industry in Jamaica. "Horseracing has immense potential in Jamaica and can become a significant foreign exchange earner. Realizing this potential requires collaboration among all stakeholders."
SVREL has been operating Caymanas Park since March 2017 after the government divested the property. With investments exceeding J$4 billion in product enhancements and innovations like the Mouttet Mile, which boasts the largest purse in the English-speaking Caribbean, SVREL remains committed to advancing the horseracing experience in Jamaica.
Supreme Ventures Racing regrets abandonment of two races at Caymanas Park on Saturday
Supreme Ventures Racing & Entertainment Limited (SVREL) has expressed regret and disappointment following the abandonment of two races during the Saturday, April 27 race day at Caymanas Park in St Catherine, Jamaica.
The decision to abandon these races, SVREL said, was made in compliance with regulations set forth by the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), leading to the refund of all related pools according to SVREL's Pari-mutuel rules.
According to the statement released by SVREL late Saturday, the abandonment of races number one and six, respectively, was declared by the stewards of the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) due to delays that exceeded the permitted time frame as stipulated by Rule 44(iii).
Specifically, in race number one, scheduled to commence at 12:00 pm, a saddling issue with horse number five and a mandatory veterinary check for horse number eight, which reared and fell after exiting the saddling barn, resulted in delays beyond the allowable limit.
Similarly, race number six, slated for 3:10 pm, was delayed due to a horse running loose, ultimately leading to its abandonment by the stewards of the JRC.
SVREL explained that the recent amendments to Rule 44(iii), which came into effect from April 1, 2024, mandate strict adherence to race start times with a maximum allowance of five minutes after the published post time. SVREL noted that Jamaica is unique in enforcing such a rule without prior consultation with the sole promoter of horseracing in Jamaica.
The enforcement of this rule has led to financial losses for industry stakeholders, including owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, punters, and the promoter and as such the disruption caused by the abandonment of these races understandably resulted in unrest among stakeholder groups.
Despite the challenges faced, the race meet resumed with race number seven at approximately 4:00 pm, SVREL noted.
SVREL has now issued a sincere apology to valued customers and stakeholders for the inconvenience caused by the abandonment of races one and six by the JRC. SVREL also emphasized its readiness for open dialogue with the JRC and all impacted stakeholders to ensure the continued success and integrity of the horseracing industry.
As the sole promoter of horseracing in Jamaica, SVREL said it remains committed to addressing challenges collaboratively and upholding the highest standards of professionalism and service within the industry.
Light seeking to shine again at Sandown
Kitty’s Light is taking aim at his usual season finisher in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
The gelding has been a star for trainer Christian Williams, winning big handicap events like the Eider Chase and the Scottish Grand National and going close in the Charlie Hall and the Coral Trophy.
He has particularly good record in the bet365 Gold Cup on the final day of the season, missing out only due to interference when second in 2021 and coming home third in 2022.
Last year he was completed the set of podium finishes when winning by two and a half lengths under usual jockey Jack Tudor.
The two are well acquainted and teamed up for Kitty’s Light’s Grand National bid at Aintree earlier in the month, where he ran a valiant race to finish fifth behind four Grade-One winning Irish chasers.
Williams was incredibly proud of his stable star and is now hoping the gelding can shine again in the Sandown contest he has found to be lucrative in the past.
“It was wonderful, we trained him to win the race and we thought he could, but you couldn’t be disappointed with what he did,” Williams said of the National performance.
“We were thrilled, the horse tried his best and we were very, very proud of horse and jockey.
“He’s come out of it very well, if the race was run today even then he’d be running, he’s in good form.
“He loves it at Sandown with the big fences, his jumping has come on now but even as a five-year-old he nearly won the race.
“He was third the year after that, it really seems to suit him.
“I think he likes going right-handed, he hangs a little bit right at home and he seems to really enjoy it there.
“We’re taking our chance anyway, he seems well and we’ll hope for the best.”
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