Paddington is retired, is among 11 new Breeders’ Cup defections

Paddington, who was pre-entered into the Breeders' Cup Mile, was retired. He was among one of 11 pre-entered horses withdrawn from Breeders' Cup races, according to an update on the Breeders' Cup website on Friday.

The other defections were Crown Imperial, Pearls and Rubies and Toca Madera, all of whom were targeted for the Juvenile Turf Sprint; Johannes Brahms, cross-entered in the Juvenile and Juvenile Turf; Legend of Time, from the Juvenile Turf; Sauterne, from the Mile; Belleza de Arteaga from the Distaff; Piz Badile and Raptor's from the Turf; and Anarchist from the Sprint.

HRN on Thursday reported the withdrawal of Caramel Swirl from the Filly & Mare Sprint. 

Four-time Group 1 winner Paddington will not ship to California after being diagnosed with an elevated temperature and a respiratory infection according to a Friday release from Coolmore, whose principals co-owned Paddington during his racing career. He will stand stud at Coolmore, and the farm plans to announce his stud fee at a later date.

Paddington finished his career with a 10: 7-0-1 record and US$2.12 million in earnings. The Aidan O'Brien trainee raced only twice at age two, breaking his maiden at second asking in a seven-furlong maiden at the Curragh. He won his first six starts as a 3-year-old. Those included four wins at the top level. He won the Irish 2,000 Guineas (G1) at the Curragh and the St James's Palace (G1) at Royal Ascot, both against his own age group and both by open lengths. He then beat older foes in both the Coral-Eclipse (G1) at Sandown and the Sussex (G1) at Goodwood.

After a third-place run behind Mostahdaf in the Juddmonte International (G1), Paddington was laid off for about two months. He finished a disappointing ninth in the Queen Elizabeth II (G1) on Saturday at Ascot, crossing the wire 35 lengths behind Big Rock. After the race, O'Brien remarked that he was too fresh early in the race, causing him to weaken late over the soft footing.

“To do what he did takes a very special horse,” O'Brien said. “In terms of his attitude and determination he was very similar to Giant’s Causeway but Paddington was a much quicker horse. He had great tactical speed but could quicken off it. He’s an unbelievable specimen who stands over an incredible amount of ground. He got physically stronger and heavier from race to race which is a very unusual thing in a thoroughbred.”