Monday 10 July 2023
SIYOUNI’s son Paddington took his third Group 1 race in six weeks on Saturday, defeating the dual Group 1 winner Emily Upjohn (SEA THE STARS) to win the Eclipse Stakes on his first try at 10 furlongs.
In doing so, the Arqana yearling sales graduate became the first horse since Sadler’s Wells to land the Irish 2000 Guineas – Eclipse Stakes double, and the first since Giant’s Causeway to win both the St James’s Palace Stakes and the Eclipse.
“Seamus [Heffernan] rode him the other morning and he couldn't talk when he got off him–that's how aggressive and quick he has become,” Paddington’s trainer Aidan O’Brien told Thoroughbred Daily News. “When that happens to fellows that have ridden that many good horses, it takes you aback a little bit.”
“He is a serious horse and Ryan [Moore – jockey] was very confident going out, but when you have an older filly like that they don't lie down,” he added. “We knew how good she was and didn't underestimate her in any way. Ryan said he got there a bit early, but he didn’t want to break his rhythm and disappoint him and that was 100% the right thing to do. It would have been perfect for her, because she had a target to take her there but Ryan said he was surprised how easily he went through the race. I don’t think he hit him at all.
“There's a good chance he'll be back for the Sussex Stakes – that was the plan, but because he had thrived so much and John [Magnier] was so confident he'd get the trip he was here beforehand. He is quicker than Giant's Causeway and his constitution is amazing – Giant always ran at the same weight, but this horse is getting heavier which is strange and unusual, but he is obviously turning into a very quick horse. He’s a dream. Ryan’s very excited about him.”
Over the same weekend, SIYOUNI notched up his 70th Stakes winner when Sivka Burka made all the running to win the Listed Prix Amandine at Deauville. The three-year-old filly, owned and bred by Rashit Shaykhutdinov, was bought back at the 2021 Arqana August Yearling Sale.
SIYOUNI has 17 yearlings catalogued at this year's sale.
