Horse Power: Paddington to win the QEII Stakes at Ascot

Liverpool Echo

20 October 2023

Horse Power: Paddington to win the QEII Stakes at Ascot

PADDINGTON can star on British Champions Day at Ascot, while Italian jockey Frankie Dettori may bow out as the undisputed ‘King’ at his favourite track with another victory on Saturday afternoon.

Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old son of Siyouni can land another Group One of the season in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Sponsored By QIPCO) (British Champions Mile) (3.05pm). While Dettori can partner KING OF STEEL to another victory in the QIPCO Champion Stakes (British Champions Middle Distance) (3.45pm) on what is likely to be his final day riding at Ascot.

Paddington has been superb all season, going from handicap and Listed winner to Classic hero and notching up four straight Group Ones. After taking the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the talented colt won the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot; stepped up in trip to 1m2f at Sandown to win the Coral-Eclipse Stakes before more mile glory in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. His winning run was ended in August in the Juddmonte International by the equally-talented fellow Royal Ascot scorer Mostahdaf. Paddington may have been feeling the effects of being on the go for much of the season and over the 1m2f found a couple too good on the day when only third. But with a little break since that defeat, back down to the mile and on softer conditions he handled so well at Goodwood, Paddington can resume winning ways ahead of fellow Classic scorer and Irish raider, filly Tahiyra.

Dettori partners King Edward II Stakes winner and Epsom Derby runner-up KING OF STEEL for the first time in the Champion Stakes and he can make it a winning start – and possible end – at Ascot. The Italian’s retirement is on hold with him heading to California to ride on. But Champions Day at Ascot has been earmarked as his swansong in Britain and he can go out with a bang. King Of Steel has only won once – that Royal Ascot success in June – but has run some fine races in defeat, starting with that runner-up effort to Auguste Rodin in Epsom in June. He was also fourth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and fourth – behind Auguste Rodin again – in the Irish Champion Stakes last month. He should have no issues with the track and soft going and can give Dettori the perfect finish at Ascot.

On better ground John and Thady Gosden’s Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Juddmonte International hero Mostahdaf would probably be the winner – but there must be doubts about his ability on the testing surface and he may end up not running anyway.

Dettori would be hoping to have already had a winner by then with warm favourite Kinross having his ideal conditions in his bid for back-to-back wins in the Group One QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes (British Champions Series) (1.50pm). But it may pay to back George Boughey’s BELIEVING each-way against the market leader. The three-year-old filly has yet to win at the top level, but ran a superb race when third, beaten around a length, behind Regional in the Group One Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock Park last month. She looks to be improving and has won on a softer surface when landing a Group Three contest at Chantilly in May. Believing should certainly hit the frame, and as well as the favourite Kinross, the likes David Evans’ Ascot specialist Rohaan; the Andrew Balding-trained course and distance winner Sandrine; and Vadream – from the Charlie Fellowes’ stable – could all go close to victory.

O’Brien’s JACKIE OH can finally grab a Group One success in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (British Champions Series) (2.25pm). The Galileo filly has only won twice in seven career starts with the latest in the Group Three Darley Rathbride Stakes at Gowran Park in July in soft conditions. But she was only narrowly beaten by Blue Rose Cen in the Group One Prix de l’Opera at the start of the month. She steps up to 12 furlongs following that career-best effort. She is not certain to get the trip, although her full-sister Hibiscus and half-brother Secret State did. And this step up in distance on rain-softened ground may bring out the required improvement to let her score at the top level. Fellow Irish raider Term Of Endearment – from the Randox Grand National-winning stable of Henry De Bromhead; and Juddmonte-owned duo Time Lock and Bluestocking look the main dangers to Jackie Oh.

It could be a decisive day in the battle for the British trainers’ championship and O’Brien may go ahead of the Gosdens and could have three winners on the day. His KYPRIOS can build on his return to win the Group Two QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup (British Champions Series) (1.15pm). The five-year-old son of Galileo won six times last season, five at Group One level including the Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup, Irish St Leger and Prix Du Cadran. Injury meant he only made in return to defend his Irish St Leger crown at the Curragh last month. He was second to Eldar Eldarov but it was still a very good comeback and with that under his belt he can hold off three-time winner Trueshan.

Willie Haggas’ AL MUBHIR can win the finale, the Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored By QIPCO) (4.25pm). Al Mubhir ran out a fine winner of a one-mile handicap at Leicester back in May in similar soft conditions he will encounter on Saturday. He has had some excuses for not building on that with further successes in four runs, with his third in a Listed event at Newbury last month hinting he may be about to strike again. The four-year-old should have ideal conditions at Ascot and can land the finale for the Haggas stable who have sent out the winner (Aldaary) and runner-up (Sweet Believer) in the past two runnings of the Balmoral.

Away from Ascot at Catterick the Tim Easterby-trained course and distance winner MANILA SCOUSE can win again in the William Hill Catterick Dash Handicap (3.40pm).

Others who can score in Yorkshire are another Easterby runner UGO GREGORY in the William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap (4.20pm); David O’Meara’s recent Epsom scorer MUSCIKA in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Veterans’ Handicap (3pm); and HAMLET – from the John Quinn stable in the Brian Bunkham 70th Birthday Celebration Restricted Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (2.20pm).