Following wins at Moonee Valley and Randwick to kick-start his career, Paulele was far from disgraced when unplaced in the Group II Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill and the Group II VRC Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington.
Given a five-week freshen-up, Godolphin's striking 2yo son of Dawn Approach (IRE) proved a class above in Saturday's Group III Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) at Randwick.
Paulele has the finish of the Kindergarten all to himself (Image Steve Hart)
Given a positive ride by Damien Oliver, the James cummings-trained colt sat outside the leader Vandoula Lass before putting the race to bed at the 200.
The Hinchinbrook filly Anagain, the second-longest priced runner in the field, finished determinedly to be two and a half lengths back in second, with the I Am Invincible filly Ashema a long-neck back in third.
James Cummings said the drop back in distance proved decisive.
"He's a bit of a weapon this horse," Cummings said.
"There’s no doubt he was too quick for the (VRC) Sires in between the Silver Slipper and today, but it was worth a crack and look if it had been a Group II 1100m race on the same day he would’ve found himself in it.
“But he just dropped back in distance beautifully, he’s quick, he’s strong. He’s better in the coat, better in himself.
“I think that trip down to Melbourne and back just got his preparation back on track. That was a dominant win by a colt that can go on as a three-year-old and be a pretty nice horse.”
A three-quarter brother to the Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner Montsegur (New Approach) and a half-brother to Group III ATC Canonbury Stakes winner Tessera (Medaglia d'Oro), Paulele is one of seven winners from eight to race out of the Flying Spur mare Chatoyant.
A daughter of the blue hen Decidety (Last Tycoon), Chatoyant is a half-sister to Group 1 VRC Myer Classic winner Bonaria (Redoute's Choice), Group III winner Time Out (Rory's Jester) and the Group III winner and Group 1-placed Legally Bay (Snippets), who is the dam of Merchant Navy and Jolie Bay.
The family has been prominent at the sales this year. Merchant Navy has his first crop of yearlings on offer.
Paulele - Hollywood-handsome from prolific stakes-winning family (image Steve Hart)
Widden Stud consigned an I Am Invincible filly out of Bonaria to the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where she was purchased by Busuttin Racing for $975,000.
Segenhoe Stud consigned an I Am Invincible colt out of Jolie Bay at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, that made $460,000 to the bid of M Dunn / Neil Jenkinson.
Chatoyant foaled an Exosphere filly on November 5. With three-stakes-winners to her credit, Chatoyant earned an honourable pension in February.
Paulele becomes the 14th stakes winner worldwide for the former Darley shuttler Dawn Approach (IRE).
