Paddy Wants Pats lapped up the attention after landing his first ‘black type’ win last night at Ballarat.

Owned and trained at Freshwater Creek by Kelly Bravo, Paddy Wants Pats trumped a star-studded field in the Group Listed Western Districts Derby (450m).

Paddy Wants Pats ($4.00) claimed a $20,000 first prize defeating G1 Silver Chief runner-up Compliance ($3.40F) by 1.7 lengths, with Decimate ($7.90) a further 0.9 lengths away third in 25.03sec (Best).

A week earlier, he was the fastest qualifier in 24.93sec.

The superbly bred Aug ’19 Black Magic Opal x Striker Light dog notched his 11^th win from 30 starts and his stakes jumped to $66,175.

“He’s a real sook, he loves affection. And he’ll never change.”

He was also a finalist in the G3 Speed Star at The Meadows and Listed Australian Sprint at Sandown Park.

“I was stoked… I wasn’t sure how he’d go out wide (Box 8),” Kelly said. “But I was happy where he positioned early, and it was nice to see him get up.”

Kelly watched the final at home (after racing at The Meadows earlier in the day) while her 19-year-old daughter, Bronte, deputised.

“That’s the best he’s come out of the boxes; I think Bronte will be handling him in the future,” Kelly quipped.

Given his name, surely there’s something to Paddy Wants Pats’ personality?

“He’s a real sook, he loves affection. And he’ll never change,” Kelly said.

Kelly’s husband, Brett, trained his dam (Striker Light – also owned by Kelly – which contested an amazing 17 Group race finals including 11 G1s.

She won the G1 Golden Easter Egg and G1 National Futurity, both in 2017, and the G1 Temlee and G2 Warrnambool Cup, both in 2018.

In all, Striker Light won 30 races from 62 starts and amassed $702,560 in prizemoney.

So, does Paddy Wants Pats have any of mum’s traits?

Paddy Wants Pats with Ballarat GRC general manager Jodie Faralla and Bronte Bravo after the Western Districts Derby.

“They’re quite opposite,” Kelly said. “On paper, he’s probably quicker and definitely a lot stronger but hasn’t got her early brilliance.

“And he’s a gentleman whereas she’s got a bit of arrogance. But both have a ‘funny, unique bark’, which is probably the only similarity.”

Paddy Wants Pats, like runner-up Compliance, is now headed for the G1 Australian Cup heats at The Meadows on February 19.

“He’s been seeded into the ‘Top 56’, that’s the plan,” Kelly said.

WATCH: Paddy Wants Pats (8) receives the kudos in the Western Districts Derby.