Top Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman has given Melbourne colt Polanski the tick of approval for a Victoria Derby start after winning the Group 3 $150,000 Jacob Park Thoroughbreds Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield today.
Polanski, black, red and white, beats San Diego in the Norman Robinson Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Bowman said that he would love to ride the Robbie Laing trained Polanski in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 2 after he got the better of favourite San Diego over the final fifty metres to score by head on the line.
The win today will top the three year old off nicely for the Derby and Bowman feels that there is still further improvement in him.
“He is still a big raw horse this fellow and he got to the front quite easily but when he got there he got the wanders a little bit. So I think he can do better and the way he went today the further the trip is only going to enhance his chances,” Bowman said.
“He just idled when he got to the front and he is such a big strong brute. He ticks all the boxes, he’s just hitting form and he will be an excellent chance in the Derby. I’d say he would be a top three pick for sure.”
Polanski made it back to back wins after taking out the Listed $120,000 UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 5 and Laing has no second thoughts about lining up in the Victoria Derby.
“His win the other day, I thought it was brave. Everyone in the stable knew that he would improve three or four lengths on that and I thought he was a good thing today,” Laing said.
“Big tough horse, he will go home and eat up, spend a bit of time at the pool. The horse that run second will be hard to beat on Derby day.”
Bowman was able to get the perfect run in fourth spot after Kerrin McEvoy circled the field in the early stages on San Diego after beginning quickly from the outside barrier.
Polanski ($6) got on terms with San Diego ($4.40) half way down the straight and was strong enough to grab a head win with Epic Saga ($11) four lengths away in third spot.
Polanski and San Diego will line up again in the Derby along with the runner up’s stablemate, Spring Champion Stakes winner Complacent.
