Trainer Robbie Laing has confirmed that the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) will be the first 2014 Autumn Racing Carnival target for Victoria Derby winner Polanski.
Victoria Derby winner Polanski could contest both the Australian Guineas and Australian Cup during the 2013 Melbourne Festival Of Racing. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Laing purchased Polanski for just $4000 and was able to turn the son of Rakti into the dominant staying three-year-old of the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival; with the colt winning the UCI Stakes (1800m) and Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) before his dominant three lengths victory in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m).
Polanski was sent to the spelling paddock straight after his win in the Victoria Derby but will return to work in just over a fortnights time and begin his preparations for the Australian Guineas that will be held during the 2014 Melbourne Festival Of Racing.
“He is out spelling in the beautiful paddock and he has put on a bit of weight and his coat looks better than when he ran in the Derby,” Laing told Racing Ahead on RSN.
“It has been four weeks since the Derby this Saturday so he will have another few weeks out and we will bring him in before it gets too hot.
“We will probably head that way (to the Australian Guineas) and if we have to change plans mid-course than we will do so.
“He will probably run over 1400 metres first-up and then the Guineas.”
Three-year-olds Super Cool and Fiveandahalfstar quinelled the 2013 edition of the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) and Laing said he is open to Polanski making his weight-for-age debut in the $1 million race, even though the scheduling does not follow his usual racing pattern.
“The Australian Cup is only a week later and that is a bit of a tricky one because we have been spacing his runs a fortnight apart,” Laing said.
“It was such a good race for the three-year-olds last year that we are really looking at the Australian Cup as well.”
Laing revealed earlier this month that the 2014 Melbourne Cup was his ultimate target for Polanski next year and he is confident that the four-year-old can become the first horse since Efficient to win the Melbourne Cup a year after winning the Victoria Derby.
“We watch all the Derbies being in racing and I thought his win was very similar to Efficient’s,” Laing said.
“He dominated the last 100 and ran away from them and won by three easing up on the line.
“Had it been another 100 metres he would have won by six.”
Polanski ($21) is currently on the third line of 2014 Melbourne Cup pre nominations betting markets behind Mount Athos ($17) and Fiorente ($19).
