Impressive returns set Paulele & Creative Flair on G1 paths

Exciting sprinter Paulele and improving four-year-old Creative Flair look set to have their sights raised to G1 assignments following winning starts to their year in Australia and Dubai last week.

Paulele kicked off his three-year-old autumn campaign in style as he made all to take the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes on Saturday, stretching his unbeaten record at Randwick to five in the process.

Some of Australia’s premier G1 sprints are on the agenda for the Dawn Approach colt, including the Oakleigh Plate at Caufield later this month and the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in March.

Creative Flair backed up a productive three-year-old season with a first Group-race success in the G2 Balanchine on week four of the Dubai World Cup Carnival, a card on which Sovereign Prince also scored in the Listed Jumeirah Classic.

Having raced in the UK, France and the USA in 2021, Creative Flair looks set to be on her travels again, with G1 targets at Keeneland, Belmont Park and Saratoga under consideration for the Dubawi filly.

Two established G1 stars are due to be in action this weekend, with Doncaster Mile hero Cascadian due to run in the first G1 of the calendar year in Australia, the C. F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Colette is also set to make her autumn return on the same day in Randwick’s G2 Apollo Stakes, a race she easily won 12 months ago. The exceptional mare claimed the second G1 of her career when storming home in the Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington in October.

Several juveniles will be hoping to advance their G1 Blue Diamond claims on Caulfield’s Saturday card, with Daumier aiming to follow up his recent Listed victory with success in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude.

Ingratiating, runner-up in the 2021 Blue Diamond before going on to further G1 placings in the Golden Slipper and Manikato Stakes, is also slated to reappear in the G2 Rubiton Stakes on the same card.

The Dubai World Cup Carnival passes the halfway point on Friday, with the G2 Singspiel Stakes, won in recent years by Benbatl and Dream Castle, the highlight on week five.