PERSONALLY speaking, there is one day of the Royal Ascot meeting that stands out for me, and it is the opening action on Tuesday.

This year was no different, and what a highlight of the week Paddington provided, scorching home in the battle of the classic winners from Chaldean.

Such has been Paddington’s rate of improvement that he has gone from winning a handicap at Naas, sponsored by the Irish Racing Writers, to winning his second Group 1 in less than three months.

With a victory that saw Aidan O’Brien become the most successful trainer in Royal Ascot history, overtaking Sir Michael Stoute who had wrestled the honour from Sir Henry Cecil, Paddington won the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes, and became the 17th Irish-trained winner of the first day centrepiece. Nine of that number have been saddled by O’Brien at Ballydoyle, from where Vincent O’Brien sent out the winners in 1972 and 1978, Thatch and Jaazeiro.

Giant’s Causeway started Aidan O’Brien’s winning streak in 2000, and there is every possibility that Paddington could go on to became one of the best to emerge from Ballydoyle, and later become a successful stallion at Coolmore. The Magnier family has certainly put their trust in Paddington’s sire Siyouni (Pivotal), and they stand his other Group 1-winning sons, Sottsass and St Mark’s Basilica.

Arqana yearling

Bred by Dayton Investments, and sold to Laurent Benoit’s Broadhurst Agency, acting for M.V. Magnier, as a yearling at Arqana’s October Yearling Sale for €420,000, Paddington showed his first real ability when he won a maiden at the Curragh by five lengths, O’Brien having sent him to Ascot to make his debut.

Now Paddington has run up a sequence of four wins this season, at Naas, the Listed Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh, his victory in the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, and now his win this week. Following his classic triumph, I wrote that “his rate of progress is eye-catching, and a potential clash with Chaldean at Royal Ascot is a mouth-watering prospect.” Now it is a reality.

Paddington is the fourth foal out of Modern Eagle (Montjeu), and he was preceded by Masterpiece (Mastercraftsman), a winner at two who placed at listed level. They are the only named offspring of their dam who won the Listed Prix Belle de Nuit at Saint-Cloud in the Wildenstein colours.

Madelia

Paddington’s fourth dam Madelia (Caro) was unbeaten in four starts at three. All but one were at Group 1 level, the classics Poule d’Essai des Pouliches-French 1000 Guineas and Prix de Diane-French Oaks, and the Prix Saint-Alary.

Half of Madelia’s 10 foals were winners, and all earned some blacktype. Best was Moonlight Dance (Alysheba), Paddington’s third dam, who won the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary.

Two of Moonlight Dance’s seven winners were runners-up in Group 1 races. Fencing Master (Oratorio) was beaten a neck by stable companion Beethoven in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes, and their half-sister Millionaia (Peintre Celebre) was beaten less than a length in the Group 1 Prix de Diane-French Oaks. Two of Millionaia’s four winners did so at stakes level, Paddington’s dam and the Gowran Park listed winner Mighty Blue (Authorized).

One of eight Group 1 winners among the first nine European crops by Haras de Bonneval’s Siyouni, Paddington is one of three sons of that sire to be successful at the highest level. All three stand or will stand at Coolmore. Siyouni is also sire of a Group 1 winner in Australia, taking his overall tally to nine, and the others are Tahiyra, Dream And Do, Etoile, Laurens and Ervedya. When he sires a good horse, Siyouni gets a very good one.