Impressive debut winner Paulele signified he could be a player in the major two-year-old events with an easy win at The Valley.
James Cummings’ Melbourne stable foreman Sean Keogh described the two-year-old colt as the quiet achiever of the juveniles in the stable after his comfortable win over 1000 metres.
Keogh said Paulele came down with the second group of two-year-olds to the stable a couple of weeks ago and had really put it together since.
Last year, the same race was won by subsequent Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa and Keogh said Paulele also had a big future and would also be aimed at big target races.
Keogh said Cummings came down to Godolphin’s Flemington stables and watched Paulele work at The Valley during the week.
“We needed James’ call to run the horse because he’s probably not furnished enough and where we need him at the moment. There’s a lot more to come from this horse,” Keogh said.
“It’s good to be winning pre-Christmas with any two-year-olds especially in the city so we’re delighted with that win.”
Keogh said Paulele showed plenty of pace and travelled well in the run and if any-thing his jockey John Allen might have got to the lead too early.
Allen said he was impressed by Paulele, who he described as a nice colt, who would have big targets down the track.
Paulele ($8.50) defeated another first starter in Direct ($7) by two lengths with Qeyaady ($13) the same distance away third.
It took one city race for star jockey Jamie Kah to return to the winner’s circle after she had served a suspension as she took out the opening race on Seb Song.
It was Kah at her sublime best, as it looked as if Seb Song was in awkward place before the turn having been pushed back to last and being pocketed by other runners.
Co-trainer Dean Krongold said it was a hard watch but Kah didn’t panic at any stage in the race.
“She’s brilliant on those sorts of horses and she got the job done. That’s the sort of jockey that this horse needs,” Krongold said.
Krongold who trains in partnership with Jason Warren said Seb Song, who was only having his third start had a “a very bright future.”
