Issy Paul: A journey into racing

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Haggas and Paul came and conquered with Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in 2020/21. They have returned for 2023 and have already whisked the G1 Ranvet S. away with Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai). Now that galloper will attempt to upscale Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.

Only a few years ago, after leaving university, the English-born Paul was questioning what she wanted to do with her life - until she found her calling, and a ‘piqued’ interest in racing led her to her current calling.

Paul discussed with TDN AusNZ her foray into the racing world: “I grew up on a farm and had always rode as a child. At uni, I started riding out for a racehorse trainer in Yorkshire. I finished uni and I really did not know what I wanted to do.

“But I always loved horses; I had started to develop an interest in racing from just riding out for trainers. From Yorkshire, I went to Newmarket to work for a trainer named Lucy Wadham for six months, which was great.”

A ski enthusiast, Paul left Wadham’s for the skiing season, which typically lasts four to five months. Upon returning to Newmarket Paul started working for trainer David and his wife Jennie Simcock.

Simcock had trained five-time Group 1 winner Dream Ahead (USA), the Iron horse Lightning Spear (GB), and the Classic winner Teppal (Fr).

“I spent the best part of 18 months with David and Jennie. I started as a stable lass, looking after the horses and leading up at the races; from there, I was entrusted with some head lass responsibilities.

“I decided to apply for the Godolphin Flying Start Program. I graduated from the program in 2020.

“Everyone is aware of what a fantastic program and opportunity it is. You gain so much experience worldwide and finishing that course, I knew then that I wanted to go back and work for a trainer.

“I am from quite near Newmarket. It was just during COVID, which was a weird time, and I had received a few jobs offers from up North, so I looked around and thought Midlam wasn’t for me,” Paul said.

Paul joins Haggas

“Jennie (Simcock) had mentioned that Harry Eustace, who came out here with Addeybb the first year, was going out on his own as a trainer.”

The Australian audience would know the last name Eustace, with Harry being the brother to David Eustace-training partner of the Ciaron Maher juggernaut. Before taking out his own trainer’s licence, Harry was an assistant trainer to Haggas.

“I thought there might be an opportunity there and obviously, Haggas is one of the biggest trainers in Newmarket and, in my opinion, one of the best. I started with Haggas two days after I finished Flying Start in 2020."

Paul is not wrong about Haggas being one of best trainers at Newmarket from his Somerville Lodge stables, Haggas has saddled up seven Classic winners and trained the likes of Champion gallopers Baaeed (GB), the ill-fated but supremely talented Sea Of Class (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and of course Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}).

Paul shared what her typical day is at Somerville Lodge, “I ride out most mornings, but I am mainly doing the board and office work and racing a lot.

“We can have up to 200 horses in at any one time, so it is a pretty big operation.

“But when I first started with Haggas, I worked a of couple months while Harry was still there, it was great, and it is experience I use now when travelling internationally. I know how to feed them properly, treat and bandage wounds properly, all those little things you wouldn’t necessarily know unless somebody teaches you."

Trip three to Australia

Twenty-twenty three marks the third time Paul has visited Australia. The first time was with Godolphin Flying Start in 2020 where she was based in Aberdeen, New South Wales.

Paul returned in 2021 with the star chestnut galloper Addeybb, a class horse in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, Addeybb had won the G1 Champion S. in Great Britain.

The son of Pivotal (GB) had previously come and conquered Australia in 2020 when he took both the G1 Ranvet S. and the G1 Queen Elizabeth S.

With Paul alongside Addeybb, many would recall his stirring battles with the Champion mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in the 2021 Ranvet S. when the Australasian pin-up girl managed to beat the English galloper before tables where turned in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. when Addeybb made it back-to-back victories.

Paul jokes, “I kind of feel half Aussie, but I love it here.”

Recalling memories of Addeybb, Paul says he was the perfect gentleman in every way.

She is now back in town with some very classy gallopers that have already made their mark in Sydney, none more than Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai).

The 5-year-old gelding was a dual Group 2 winner in France and was placed in the G1 Champion S. in 2021.

The stable admits during the season of 2022 the talented son of Pride Of Dubai wasn’t showing his best form; however, a trip to Australia seems to have sparked his enthusiasm for racing, when with Ryan Moore aboard, he blitzed a field that included the multiple Group 1 winners Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) and Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G1 Ranvet S.

“He’s (Dubai Honour) is a lot cheekier than Addeybb, he has a lot of character. I started riding him in the winter and I most definitely have a developed a spot for Dubai Honour.

“I had a little cry after he won the Ranvet. I get very nervous and so does the boss. It was a lot of work that has gone into that performance and not just the work we do here, this horse started trotting in the middle of winter, there are a lot of different elements in it and a lot of people who have played a part for what? A minute and half race.”

Paul credits and thanks Harry Eustace for the guidance he showed her during her first Australian foray.

“I will forever be grateful for Harry when he told me, 'Iss, it’s a team sport. Everybody in Australia is always so welcoming and supportive', the first people to congratulate me after winning the Ranvet was Annabel Neasham, Ciaron Maher and James Cummings.”

Anamoe versus Dubai Honour

The victory in the Ranvet set Dubai Honour up for a clash with Godolphin’s Champion Anamoe in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., which looks to be the swansong of the much admired 4-year-old entire, can Dubai Honour rain on his parade?

When asked how she is going to feel during the clash, Paul is quick to reply “pretty nervous, I think, I remember when Addeybb ran I could barely watch it.

“I will probably be hiding behind somebody and maybe I will watch the last 100 metres.”

Paul admits she loves the camaraderie of the Australian public and how they get behind these ‘clashes’.

“I have seen all over social media, Anamoe, Dubai Honour and Unicorn Lion. It makes it really exciting and adds another element to the sport, at home we are a lot more traditionalist in our approach. I quite like the entertainment of it here in Australia.”

As Paul pointed out there are 13 horses in the race and every horse has a chance, you never know who will bring their A-game come Saturday, it could very well even be Dubai Honour’s stable mate Protagonist (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

“It is an honour that we get to come down here and race against the best Australians, I would like the race to be fair and true and may the best horse on the day prevail.”

Future Plans

TDN AusNZ asked the talented horsewoman about her plans; no doubt this experience would hold her in good stead as a trainer.

“Right now, it is just step-by-step, I love working and travelling with these high-class horses, as a trainer in my own right, I likely wouldn’t get that opportunity. We have brought three horses out to Australia this year, including Purpleplay who will run in the G1 Queen of the Turf and all three are very talented just classy horses and that is what I want to be a part of.”

Although, a Dubai Honour upset would no doubt break many hearts, you can’t but feel the urge to cheer Dubai Honour on after speaking to Paul.