Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
WA-bred Paul Edward continues to suffer from feet problems, and his trainer Dylan Egerton-Green’s decision to relieve him of working on the track and ride him in the heavy sand is paying dividends.
Paul Edward has relished the change of routine, and he bounced back to his best form at Gloucester Park on Friday night when he was a $4.60 chance and gave a spirited frontrunning display to score an easy victory in the $19,000 NYE Pace.
“He hasn’t been handling trackwork, so I have been riding him in the thick sand,” said Egerton-Green, who stole a march on his rivals on Friday night when he fired out Paul Edward from the awkward barrier of No. 6.
Veteran Regal Cheval, the $4 favourite, revealed his usual sparkling gate speed from out wide at barrier eight. He led narrowly in the early stages but was unable to get past Paul Edward.
This left Regal Cheval working in the breeze, and Paul Edward dashed over the final 400m sections in 27.9sec. and 28.1sec. to win by just under three lengths from $6 chance Flying Rumour, who ran home solidly after enjoying a soft passage three back on the pegs.
“I have been happy with him for a few weeks, and he won with the plugs in tonight,” said Egerton-Green.
Paul Edward is by American sire Always B Miki and is the ninth foal out of the Golden Greek mare Like A Dame, who raced 36 times for three wins, 12 placings and $10,312.
Like A Dame has a far better record as a brood mare, whose progeny includes former star pacer David Hercules, who amassed $1,263,159 from 39 wins and 35 placings from 108 starts.