Victoria Derby winner Polanksi is back in work and will be set for the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 12.
Polanski will be set for the G1 Australian Derby. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Trainer Robbie Laing sent Polanski straight to the paddock following his breathtaking win in the 2013 Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 2.
The Victoria Derby win took Polanksi’s earning to $1.17 million following his other 2013 Melbourne Spring Carnival victories in the Listed $120,000 UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on October 5 and the Group 3 $150,000 Starlight Children’s Foundation Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 20.
The Australian Derby is a major part of the ‘The Championships’ over the Sydney Autumn Carnival and Laing is keen to get his stable star amongst the huge prizemoney on offer.
”It was always really high up there and then when I saw it had gone up to $2 million, it became the number one priority,” Laing said.
Laing has mapped out a tentative Autumn Carnival program for the Rakti three year old and will run second up in the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 1.
A run the following week in the Group 1 $1m Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington could be on the cards but Laing will wait and see how his new stable star comes through the Guineas run.
”Depending on how he goes in that race, and also what the field looks like, the following Saturday is the Australian Cup,” Laing said.
Even though Polanski only cost $4000 as a yearling, Laing always knew the colt had plenty of ability and wasn’t surprised to see him emerge as one of the stars of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
“There were no great surprises with him, he showed great ability as a young horse and every time that we raised the bar with him, he jumped it,” Laing said.
“I suppose we were a bit optimistic buying a $4000 horse and turning him into a Group horse but he can go right on with and become a good weight-for-age horse.
“It wouldn’t surprise me when he thickens that he will become a star of the turf.”
The Australian Derby is one of the showcase races on the first day of the two day revamped Randwick Autumn Carnival which will see the running of four Group 1 races totalling $8.5m in prizemoney.
The other three Group 1 races on day one are the $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m), the $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) and the $1m Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
