'Amazing' Paddington bids to extend sequence in Juddmonte International at York

Paddington continues his journey to superstardom in a Juddmonte International Stakes which may be short on numbers, but is bristling with quality at York on Wednesday.

The Group One contest has been won by some of the real greats and this year sees Aidan O'Brien’s all-conquering three-year-old up against a thriving Royal Ascot winner, a Classic-winning filly who cannot be dismissed lightly and a course-and-distance scorer yet to reach his ceiling.

It has been a phenomenal rise to the top for Paddington, who was competing in handicap company at the beginning of the season but has progressed through the ranks to become a multiple Group One winner and one of the best colts in training.

Having extended his winning run to seven in the Sussex Stakes when showcasing his dominance over a mile, the son of Siyouni now faces his toughest cast at 10 furlongs as he bids to join other Ballydoyle giants on the Knavesmire roll of honour.

Should Paddington be victorious, he would gain an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a race O’Brien did not dismiss when speaking after the Sussex Stakes and in which he went so close with Giant’s Causeway, winner of the Juddmonte International in 2000.

"He’s an amazing horse really and all he’s done is progress with each race," O’Brien said.

"There’s nothing much else I can say about him, every time we’ve asked him a question he keeps coming up with it.

"Everything has gone well with him since his last run. The ground is fine and we know he stays the trip.

"He went to the Coral-Eclipse for his first run over a mile and a quarter, so this is a little bit further on a flatter track.

"It will be interesting to see and we’ll take it race by race with him at the moment."

Frankie Dettori is locked with