Paddington Express to Eclipse Three Sandown Rivals
What Saturday’s Coral Eclipse Stakes lacks in quantity is made up for in quality. Topping the betting is the 2023 Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner, Paddington, and Coronation Stakes winner, Emily Upjohn. The race sponsors quote the duo on 11/10 and 5/4 respectively.
Dubai Honour, a two-time Group-1 winner in Australia this season, and West Wind Blows, twice a Longchamp winner in Group-3 company, complete the select four runner field.
Ryan Moore and Paddington trounced their rivals in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Will an extra two furlongs be problematic on Saturday? ©GettyImages
Is Three the Magic Number?
As a four-year-old filly, Emily Upjohn enjoys a three-pound weight concession. But, as a three-year-old colt, it is Paddington that carries bottom weight and receives a healthy ten pounds from Dubai Honour and West Wind Blows.
And it is the youngster that we believe will etch his name on the long list of Coral Eclipse Stakes winners. The ten-furlong contest dates back to 1886. It has been run exclusively at Sandown Park – with the exception of 1973 when Kempton Park staged the race.
Previous results give away little regarding the destination of the prize. Over the past 20 years, eight five-year-olds, five four-year-olds, and seven three-year-olds have prevailed.
Three-year-olds were excluded from the 2020 running (as part of race alterations due to the Covid-19 pandemic), but five of the last eight Eclipse winners were aged three. This trend suggests that younger horses are favoured by the weight pull in the present climate.
Moore the Master of Pace
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Paddington is stepping up in trip from a mile for the first time. Conversely, Emily Upjohn drops back two furlongs for the first time in over a year – since she was an unlucky second in the Oaks.
This adds an interesting angle to proceedings – as does the question of pace. Who will make the running, and how quickly will this field go in the early stages? If the contest turns into a sprint, it is unlikely Paddington will be tapped for toe.
His jockey, Ryan Moore, may be approaching his 40th birthday, but he is arguably riding better than ever. He took this contest in 2021 with another O’Brien-trained three-year-old, St Mark’s Basilica.
On a rapidly improving horse – with form figures of 51-1111 – the wily Moore is unlikely to allow the race to unravel to his detriment. If Paddington is beaten, it is doubtful he will be held accountable for the defeat.
Gosden Good for Lancashire Oaks Number 10
At Haydock, Emily Upjohn’s trainer, John Gosden (and son Thady) have an exceptional chance in the 2.40 pm, the bet365 Lancashire Oaks. Their representative, Mimikyu won the Group-2 Park Hill at Doncaster last September and was short-headed in a York Group-3 contest in May.
Mimikyu wins Coral Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes 🥇
A record 𝗦𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗛 win for @FrankieDettori in the race!#ITVRacing | #CazooStLeger | @DoncasterRaces pic.twitter.com/68nwXtNQ3X
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 8, 2022
On paper, Saturday’s race is no stronger. It also appears weaker than many previous renditions of the Lancashire Oaks. In 2021 this race was won by Alpinista. She would go on to land the 2022 l’Arc de Triomphe!
John Gosden has a remarkable record in this race. He has won it nine times since 1997. With a stable brimming full of talent and operating at a 23 percent success rate, Mimikyu has plenty going for her. She could be the one to give the Gosdens Lancashire Oaks win number 10.
Saturday’s Top Horse Racing Tips
- Paddington 3.40 pm Sandown
- Mimikyu 2.40 pm Haydock
