Winx colours propel trainer Paul Shailer to make an increasing mark on city scene

Paul Shailer has big plans for success on the city racing scene and his association with prominent owner Peter Tighe is starting to bear fruit.

Mister Bianco scores for prominent owner Peter Tighe and trainer Paul Shailer, wearing the racing colours made famous by Winx. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Nine years after Winx scored the first of her famous 33-race winning streak on the Sunshine Coast, her famous racing colours were to the fore again in another significant moment.

Mister Bianco may have won a modest three-year-old race, wearing the Magic Bloodstock colours of owner Peter Tighe, but it heralded the continuing revival of Paul Shailer’s training career.

Former Kiwi Shailer had a long association with Chris Waller and worked as his Queensland foreman before he hit a hurdle, leaving to later get a fresh start to his racing career when training at Port Macquarie in NSW.

Several months ago, Shailer moved to the Gold Coast and he credited Tighe with giving him the strong support needed to re-emerge as a racing force.

Shailer wants to make a major mark on the metropolitan racing scene and Mister Bianco’s win was a step in the right direction.

Mister Bianco makes it two from three as he wins at @SCTurfClub! pic.twitter.com/7GuIE6fO2g

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 10, 2024

“I always wanted more (than training in regional NSW) – you can only win so many maidens and Class 1s around Taree and Port Macquarie when you have been involved with the horses of Chris Waller’s that I was involved with,” Shailer said.

“I think Peter Tighe would have about 15 horses with me.

“I wouldn’t be training on the Gold Coast without Peter, it is so humbling to have his backing.

“When Pete is in a horse, Max Whitby comes in a horse and then you have got a horse for Max or even for Neil Werrett.

“I really want to train city winners.

“I don’t want to sound disrespectful, but I don’t have much interest in training winners at Warwick and Gatton.

“If I wanted to do that I would have stayed at Port Macquarie, I want to train city-class horses and even horses good enough to travel interstate.

“We have spent about $3m since we have been at the Gold Coast, on bloodstock.”

Trainer Paul Shailer (left) after the win of Mister Bianco on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

GET WELL SOON

Racing stalwart Max Fowler, the father of race caller David, ended up in hospital on Friday after tripping on the gutter and gashing his head while walking into the carpark at the Ipswich races.

The popular 87-year-old – who rarely misses a Brisbane race meeting – was thankful some good mates including champion former jockey Robbie Fradd were on hand to help him.

He was taken to Brisbane’s Wesley Hospital and stitched up, cleared of any serious damage before later being discharged.

“True to form, Max’s main concern as he was bound up like an Egyptian mummy by paramedics was he hoped he hadn’t held the race meeting up,” David told us.

“Dad is approaching 88 and must have the hide of a rhinoceros as he successfully battles Grade 4 melanoma cancer through immunotherapy.”

Melbourne-born Max, who lived a stone’s throw from Caulfield racecourse when he was a kid, is a long-time Brisbane Racing Club member who has been going to the races to 80 years.

We hope to see him back at the track again soon.

Originally published as Winx colours propel trainer Paul Shailer to make an increasing mark on city scene