Polanski is heading for a career at stud after trainer Robbie Laing confirmed the Victoria Derby winner would be retired from the racetrack.
Polanski will be retired to stud after suffering a career ending injury in the Futurity Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia,
The three year old suffered a career ending injury in the Group 1 $500,000 Cathay Pacific Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday forcing jockey Dean Yendall to dismount on the track after finishing over twenty lengths behind winner Moment Of Change.
Polanski was quickly attended to by the on course vets before being whisked away to the Melbourne University vet clinic at Werribee where he was diagnosed with major soft tissue damage surrounding the tendon but no fractures to the pastern as first thought.
Laing received a phone call from the clinic confirming that the injury was too severe to consider a comeback and immediately started to search for a new home for the colt.
“I got a phone call from the vet last night and he put it simply the damage to the tendon was far too great to suggest he could ever race again,” Laing told Racing Network.
“He said it was a career-ending injury.”
“We’ve had a few offers from the west and I would have thought he was an ideal horse for New Zealand with Zabeel and Pentire either finished or coming to the end of it.”
It was originally thought that the injury would be life threatening but Laing was relieved when the vets said that he could be saved.
“At least we have been able to save the horse which is something,” Laing said.
The $4000 yearling purchase emerged as one of the stars of last year’s Melbourne Spring Carnival after rising through the ranks to take out the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 2.
Laing was aiming Polanski towards this week’s Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington with the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 12 also on his Autumn Carnival program.
Polanski’s initial Autumn Carnival appearance had been delayed two weeks after he developed a nasty skin rash that prevented him from taking his place in the Group 2 $220,000 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8 and the Group 3 $150,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 15.
