Paddington was pushed to the end by rival Emily Upjohn but in the end proved too good to win a thrilling Group One Coral Eclipse at Sandown.
The match between Aidan O’Brien’s star at Irish Guineas 2000 and the Coronation Cup winners coached by John and Thady Gosden had been billed as epic and lived up to the hype as the two finished just half a length apart .
As expected, West Wind Blows under Jamie Spencer had set the pace for the four-runner field, with Ryan Moore in second on Paddington while William Buick on Emily Upjohn was hot on the trail.
Dubai Honor followed them at all times, while the field moved in single file for most of the two-and-a-half kilometer journey.
It was Paddington who attacked first and appeared like he was running away with things, but Emily Upjohn threatened a dangerous challenge coming his way from the outside.
Paddington beats Emily Upjohn by half a length at Sandown
The front two had a good gap, but Paddington, who has now completed three consecutive Group 1 races and gives O’Brien a record seventh Coral Eclipse title, was untouchable.
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