Little fish just as sweet for Toowoomba trainer Paul Wallace

By Glenn Davis

It could be a case of little fish are just as sweet for connections of promising Toowoomba sprinter Ned’s Gully if the four-year-old is given the green light to start at Doomben on Wednesday.

Ned’s Gully – a four time winner in 12 starts – is entered for the Class 4 Handicap over 1110 metres.

However, trainer Paul Wallace and the gelding’s owners are yet to decide if Ned’s Gully will take his place at Doomben or be reserved for a Class 6 Plate at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

“If he runs on Wednesday, he’ll be very hard to beat but if he starts on Saturday it’s going to be a lot harder,” Wallace said.

Ned’s Gully hasn’t raced since just failing to complete a hat-trick of wins when narrowly beaten by Irish Songs in a Benchmark race over 1350 metres at Doomben in the middle of February.

“There were no excuses that day,” Wallace said.

“Irish Songs was just too good for him and he went on the win the Glasshouse Handicap.”

Rising five-year-old Ned’s Gully is a son of dual Group 1-winner Bel Esprit out of the Desleigh Forster-trained mare Amizade.

One of Forster’s long-time clients, former bookmaker Doug Forbes and Jason Fogarty raced Amizade, who won three of her 16 starts before being retired to the breeding barn.

“Doug and Jason raced Amizade and bred Ned’s Gully from her and they’re tossing up whether to start on Wednesday or Saturday,” Wallace.

“Saturday’s race is worth four times the prize money but it’s a lot harder and he should nearly win if he runs on Wednesday.”

Wallace rarely ventures to the metropolitan area but did travel down the range to Doomben last Saturday with Matilly, who finished third in a 1050 metre three-year-old race.

“I enjoy training and love getting to the track every morning but I hate going to the races on race days,” Wallace said.

“I’d prefer to stay at home and watch them on television.”

Wallace has a team of around eight to 10 horses in work most times but regards himself as a hobby trainer.

“I got back into serious training two years ago after having about eight years off and I’ve got a full-time job working for a John Deere dealership in Toowoomba,” he said.

Wallace’s biggest win of his training career was with Drunken Joker who won the Group 3 Doomben Classic over 1615 metres in 2004.