Always B Paulie impresses on debut

“He was jogging it at the end. He waited on them at the top of the straight. I pulled the plugs and every time I asked him to, he quickened nicely and felt as though he had gears left,” harness racing driver Craig Ferguson said after Always B Paulie (Always B Miki) won on debut at Ascot Park today.

In today’s non-winner pace, Ferguson took the three year old straight to the top from a wide draw and dictated all the speed before going down to the wire to win by one and three quarter lengths from It’s A Pleasure.

Always B Paulie was made a $1.50 favourite for today’s race on the back of the talent he’s shown at workouts and trials.

“His workouts have been mostly good. He made a few mistakes early on in the campaign, but it was just him wanting to run the mobile and do things we were trying to stop him doing.”

ALWAYS B PAULIE REPLAY

Ferguson added the three year old goofed around a bit in the running today.

“The Mikis I’ve had can be a bit like that. Even today with the wind he was looking at things, but every time I asked him to go on bit he did.”

He’s predicting a bright future for the gelding.

“He’s grown a bit in the last six months and he hasn’t finished yet. I think he’s going to grow into a big strong horse. I think he’ll go on and do a nice job.”

Always B Paulie was bred by former Southlanders Paul and Yvonne Hogan and is out of their Washington VC mare Bubba Ho Tep. Bubba Ho Tep won four races and is out of Cass Hanover which provided Hogan with his first winning drive at Winton in December 1997.

As a broodmare Bubba Ho Tep has left speedy types in Bringitonhome and Mistahmistah. Hogan decided to send her to Always Be Miki after returning from a visit to America.

“I came back from my trip to the States. The old trainers said they were losing the Albatross and Big Towner breed and they wanted that to come back through. I said if that’s the case, Miki’s got to be the one to do it,” he said.

Bubba Ho Tep’s latest foal is a colt by Lazarus.

“She’s been a shy breeder. We only breed from her every second year and she’s currently in foal to Ride High.”

Hogan is an avid breeding buff and enjoys researching pedigrees and being a bit more measured in his stallion selection.

“It was all a bit hit and miss and what you’re trying to do is to build some strength back into your foals.”

He has no plans to slow down either.

“As long as I’m still around mate,” (laughter).

Meanwhile Ferguson drove quality two year old Always Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) for a suspended Nathan Williamson and recorded an easy win in the Lather Up “Leaving Juvenile Speed” Mobile Pace.

“He was just doing trackwork out there in front and did it nice and easy and had gears left,” Ferguson said.

ALWAYS DREAMING REPLAY

Williamson will be back in the cart for next Friday’s $100,000 Ace Of Spades and Ferguson will take the reins of boom two year old Marketplace.

The question is, did Always Dreaming do enough today to challenge Marketplace’s top billing in the Addington feature?

“I hope not, (laughter) but he certainly wouldn’t be out of place in that race next week.”

Ferguson said reports coming out of the Regan Todd camp are that Marketplace is in a good space leading into ‘Aces and Oaks night’.

“He’s come through the run the other day really well and nothing seems to faze him. The times I’ve driven him hard he’s just bounced off it. All the reports are good and I’ll head up there next week and hopefully I’ll get a steer behind him before raceday.”

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink