Paul Wallace chases Warwick double

By Glenn Davis

Paul Wallace once plied his trade in selling mowers but is now firmly established in the state as a full-time trainer.

Wallace did it as a hobby trainer four years ago while working at a John Deere dealership in Toowoomba.

However, he scaled back his work for the dealership and now only works remotely from home while attending to his 12 horses he has in work at Toowoomba.

“I had a young family and was running the dealership in Toowoomba when I decided to concentrate on the horses but I still work remotely for the dealership,” Wallace said.

“I had 20 in work just before Christmas but I’ve scaled back to a dozen during the hotter months.”

Wallace has two daughters, Jessica, 20, and Kate, 16, and a victory at Warwick will help pay for an upcoming birthday.

“Jessica goes to university and turns 21 on February 14 and she’s a big help around the stable every morning,” he said.

Wallace has been training full-time for the past couple of years and will head to Warwick on Tuesday with two starters.

His first runner Flank Speed received topweight of 62kgs in the Benchmark 62 Handicap over 1100 metres while Purezza has 59kgs in the Benchmark 62 Handicap over 1350 metres.

Apprentice Dylan Bennett has been booked for both runners.

Flank Speed was scratched from Rockhampton last Thursday to run at Warwick and Wallace is confident he’s pulled the right reign.

The five-year-old mare finished second at her only two runs this campaign.

The first was at Toowoomba on December 14 before her last appearance in a 1000 metre Benchmark 60 at Taroom two weeks later.

“She needs everything to go her way in her races but she’s got a good alley this time so she should just jump and run,” Wallace said.

“I’m hoping she’ll be very competitive and she should run in the first three.”

Purezza is coming off a last start win in a 1200 metre Class 3 Handicap at Warwick on January 25.

“She had an awkward gate when she won last time and she’s much better drawn this time in barrier four,” Wallace said.

“She’s yet to win over this distance but I’m confident she’ll get the trip this time.”