Odd-on favourite Paulele may have earned himself Godolphin’s slot in next weeks Everest after his dominant performance in Saturday’s Group II Polytrack Roman Consul Stakes.
Ridden by James McDonald for trainer James Cummings, the 3yo son of Dawn Approach (IRE) defeated the Capitalist colt Gleneagles by one and a half lengths with the I Am Invincible colt King Of Sparta a further half-neck back in third.
With his third stakes success, Paulele advances his record to five wins and two seconds from nine starts with earnings of $594,200.
It now seems that the Godolphin representative has come down to Trekking and Paulele.
“I think it worthwhile giving it a lot of thought,” Cummings said.
“There are other options too. He’ll be competitive in The Everest on the seven day back up I’m sure. The Manikato is an option for him and so is the Coolmore.
“The winner of this race tends to be a very good lead up to the Coolmore every year. They always run well. He’s knocking on the door to be a potential Group 1 horse but that is for us to consider. There is not long to go before we have to lock in our own horse, and you’ll know once we’ve had long discussions.
“We set the horse for the Roman Consul. As we’ve stated in the past we have a lot of confidence in the colt.
“He’s won it in good style. There was a bit of pressure on him being the short-priced favourite. He had the wide run and put himself into the race.”
McDonald has no doubt that Paulele would be competitive in the Everest.
“He would be hard to beat that is for sure,” McDonald said.
“He’s a lovely horse. I’ve always touted him as one.
“I thought he should have won last start. Just how the race was run, the leader got away with cheap sectionals, dashed away on firm ground but today back to Randwick, where he’s able to wind up, he’s put in some good splits.
“He’s strong and it never feels like he’s ever going to lay down.”
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), the dam of Merchant Navy and Jolie Bay.
With three-stakes-winners to her credit, Chatoyant earned an honourable pension in February.
Her final foal is a yearling Exosphere filly.
Paulele is one of 15 stakes-winners worldwide for the former Darley shuttler Dawn Approach (IRE), who had a resurgence this year through the deeds of the English Two Thousand Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes winner Poetic Flare.
