Godolphin galloper Paulele has the potential to be Group 1 winner with his trainer James Cummings hoping the sprinter can climb to the top this campaign.
Paulele heads to Moonee Valley on Friday night to run in Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) and break a run of excruciating minor placings at the highest level.
Last campaign Paulele finished third in the T J Smith Stakes before winding up his three-year-old year finishing runner-up in the Doomben 10,000 and Kingsford-Smith Cup, all at Group 1 level.
Paulele started his career with a victory over Friday night’s course and distance, his only try at the track.
“He’s returned beautifully, and he is really flying,” Cummings said.
“He’s a winner of his only start at The Valley and he’s got the look about him that he’s ready to charge first-up like he has been every other preparation.
“We are pleased with him leading into the Moir, it looks like a race with plenty of pressure, but he’ll be thereabouts and will be running a big race.”
A bigger stronger version has returned this campaign with Cummings and the Godolphin team looking forward to the spring ahead.
And with Godolphin holding a slot in The Everest at Randwick next month, Paulele may be the sprinter to put his hand up to run in the $15 million race.
A slot in The Everest may result in a return bout with Nature Strip who Paulele finished 4-½ lengths astern of in the TJ Smith in the autumn.
“He was a few lengths behind Nature Strip when placed behind him on a wet track, so it’s quite possible and likely that Paulele is a better horse now than in that preparation,” Cummings said.
“That was after a less-than-ideal lead-up in The Galaxy where he was never quite in the race from his wide draw on a wet track.”
James Mcdonald will make the trip down from Sydney to ride Paulele on Friday night in which the sprinter has drawn ideally in gate six in the 12-horse field.