Ben Pauling 'thrilled' to train 'very exciting' Classic prospect in 2023

Ben Pauling is relishing the prospect of having a Classic contender on his hands with May Hill winner Polly Pott set to join his yard when Harry Dunlop retires at the end of the season.

Although Pauling has made his name as a jumps trainer, he is looking to broaden his string and will seek to kickstart the process with the arrival of the two-year-old filly heralding bona fide Classic ambitions for next season.

With three of her four wins for Dunlop coming at around the mile mark, Pauling believes there is scope for her to step up in trip. He said: "She looks like she'll stay. You'd have to have in the back of your mind a Guineas entry, or we'll see whether she goes for an Oaks trial and then heads towards the Oaks. Those decisions can be made nearer the time.

"She's not the biggest two-year old so she's probably been very suited to her juvenile career, but the pedigree says she should improve with time so it's a very exciting prospect for us to have."

As for her plans for the rest of the season, Pauling expects her to be supplemented for a tilt at the Group 1 bet365 Fillies' Mile.

He said: "She'll stay with Harry now until the end of the season. All being well the plan is for her to be supplemented at Newmarket.

"We'll see how she comes out of that and then Harry and the Megsons can decide whether that's her done for the season or whether she runs anywhere else."

Polly Pott is available at 33-1 in the ante-post market for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas.

Polly Pott: won the Group 2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster this monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

Her arrival could not have come at a better time for Pauling, who was already beginning to have conversations about training Flat horses in the summer.

He said: "Right around the time when Harry informed his owners that he was going to be retiring, Andrew, Jane [the Megsons] and myself were beginning to have conversations about how we were keen to start training Flat horses for the summer.

"They asked me if I would be willing to have Polly Pott when Harry retired and I said yes I'd be delighted. At the time she'd won her previous few races, a maiden and nursery. She progressed to win another nursery and the May Hill which I think is very, very promising. Nobody could have predicted that she would go on to win a Group 2. It's really exciting.

"I'm thrilled – I want everyone to enjoy every bit of it they can. I'm certainly not looking to ruin the party, I'm very much looking forward to taking over and looking to the future."

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