Polarisation needs vet’s clearance before 2017 Sydney Cup

English stayer Polarisation will need a vet’s clearance before taking his place in the re-run of the Group 1 $2m Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Big Duke, above, is among the nominations for the re-running of the 2017 Sydney Cup at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Big Duke, above, is among the nominations for the re-running of the 2017 Sydney Cup at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Racing New South Wales Stewards released a statement saying that Polarisation will have to be cleared by Racing NSW Senior Official Veterinarian, Dr Craig Suann, after trainer Charlie Appleby’s assistant James Ferguson reported that the five year was found to have some heat in its off-fore fetlock over the weekend.

Polarisation responded quickly to treatment and Ferguson was happy with the horse’s action and he pulled up well after a gallop at Canterbury on Monday morning.

“Polarisation has been subjected to x-rays and ultrasounds performed by the stable veterinarian, who has passed Polarisation fit to start. Polarisation worked this morning on the Canterbury course proper whereby it was found to be free in its action.”

“Mr James Ferguson has advised Stewards that Polarisation has not missed any work and the examination conducted by the stable veterinarian was done so as a precaution,” the statement from Racing New South Wales read.

The Sydney Cup was abandoned mid race on the second day of ‘The Championshps’ on April 8 after the Lindsay Park trained Almoonqith and the Chris Waller’s veteran stayer Who Shot Thebarman fell just past the winning post on the first lap of the track and Racing NSW along with the Australian Turf Club have made arrangements for the Sydney Cup to be re-run on Saturday.

Polarisation was actually first across the finish line after jockey Corey Brown didn’t receive the message that the race was being called off and stablemate Penglai Pavilion with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle also completed the 3200m course to finish unofficially third.

The new Sydney Cup field will be limited to fourteen runners, firstly made up of horses from the original field who want to go around again plus supplementary entries to make up the numbers.

“We wanted to give all entrants a chance to compete for the $2 million and we believe 22 April strikes a balance between varying views of owners and trainers, whilst achieving a competitive field size for punters and racegoers,” ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said.

“Weights for the race will be the same as those which applied to the original final acceptors on Tuesday, 4 April 2017. Any supplementary entries will be weighted by the Racing NSW handicapping panel with a limit weight of 51.5kg being applied,” a statement from Racing New South Wales said.

Polarisation and Penglai Pavilion are among the sixteen nominations for the rescheduled Sydney Cup which also includes the Darren Weir trained Big Duke who was sent out as the short priced favourite in the original running of Autumn Carnival two mile feature.

Trainer Chris Waller has renominated Who Shot Thebarman, Libran and Kinema for the re-running of the Sydney Cup while original entries of Tally, Chance To Dance and Annus Mirabilis are also among the nominations.

The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig have nominated French import Harlem along with Boom Time who earned a shot at the Group 1 two miler after winning a 2425m $100,000 Handicap at Caulfield last Saturday.

Trainer Lee Curtis will give his Crown Oaks winner Lasqueti Spirit a chance in the Sydney Cup after she pulled up okay after running third to Bonneval in the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 8 with Bobby El-Issa booked to ride.

Nomiations for the rescheduled 2017 Sydney Cup

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Hcp Rating
1 527255×364 WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) G 8 Chris Waller 1= 57kg 108
2 41112×8746 LIBRAN (IRE) G 6 Chris Waller 1= 56.5kg 107
3 02303×3771 TALLY G 4 John O’Shea 1= 55kg 105
4 450×423124 CHANCE TO DANCE (IRE) G 7 Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 1= 53kg 100
5 0x77113510 ANNUS MIRABILIS (IRE) G 6 Stuart Webb 1= 52kg 98
6 1×42112111 BIG DUKE (IRE) G 5 Darren Weir 1= 52kg 104
7 70x41x7545 KINEMA (IRE) G 6 Chris Waller 1= 52kg 97
8 0100×60530 MISTER IMPATIENCE (GB) G 7 Michael Moroney 1= 52kg 98
9 3x0x85x10x PENGLAI PAVILION (USA) G 7 Charlie Appleby 1= 52kg 98
10 67379×9786 PENTATHLON (NZ) G 5 John Wheeler 1= 51.5kg 93
11 38x2x20x4x POLARISATION (GB) G 5 Charlie Appleby 1= 51.5kg 88
12 8241×02753 LASQUETI SPIRIT F 3 Lee Curtis 12 51.5kg 103
13 x311151651 BOOM TIME H 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 13= 53.5kg 101
14 1x92384x38 HARLEM (GB) H 5 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 13= 52kg 101
15 5213412413 ROCK ON (NZ) G 4 John Sargent 15 51.5kg 88
16 239×668564 SELF SENSE G 6 David Brideoake 16 51.5kg 87

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.