Paddington and Ryan Moore © Photo Healy Racing
Ballydoyle colt Paddington proved a class act in the Irish Racing Writers Carmel Kirwan and Loretta O'Hanlon Memorial Madrid Handicap at Naas this afternoon.
The Siyouni colt was an impressive winner of a Curragh maiden on his final start of last season and went to post 6/4 favourite on his handicap debut.
Ryan Moore tracked the leaders before coming to towards the inner in the straight to get a clear run.
He sent his mount to the front a furlong-and-a-half from home and the result never looked in doubt from there as he went on to post a length-and-three-quarters win.
It got messy in behind as Panic Alarm drifted left under a furlong out causing Semblance Of Order to be snatched up and eventual second Duke Of Leggagh was also hampered.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien said afterwards:- “I’m very happy with him. He won very nice the last day and handled an ease in the ground. He probably will stay further.
“He will go into a Trial now, maybe one of the French trials, to give him more experience.”
(Quotes by Alan Magee)