Politeness will head to the 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville on May 2 after she returned to racing with a fast-finishing victory in the 2015 Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon.

Politeness finished over the top of her rivals to record an impressive victory in the 2015 Robert Sangster Stakes at Caulfield this afternoon. Photo by: Adrienne Bicknell

There were concerns that the 1100 metres of the Bel Esprit Stakes would be too short for Politeness and she was settled in the second half of the field by Dwayne Dunn in the early stages of the race, but she showed her explosive turn-of-foot when she was asked for an extra effort to record a strong win from Thermal Current and Gregers.

Politeness was originally set to contest the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) and Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, but trainer Robert Smerdon was forced to chance his plans with the Street Sense mare after she suffered an injury following her third place finish in the Group 3 Bellmaine Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 14.

Smerdon confirmed that Politeness would now head to the Robert Sangster Stakes following her impressive Bel Esprit Stakes win and he revealed that the four-year-old would likely be retired if she won the Group 1 event.

“We had an injury with her after her first-up run and it was one of those unfortunate accidents where she drove a nail into her spot,” Smerdon said.

“Each time we thought we had her right it would stir up again after she galloper and we would have to wait.

“Once we had to revise the prep we looked at Adelaide because she didn’t make it to Sydney for the Coolmore or the Queen Of The Turf Stakes and obviously she is a multiple Group winner, but we want to win a Group 1 with her and the Sangster is her opportunity.

“Getting these Group 1 mares and sending them to Japan is what Phil Sly is all about and that is where she will go if she wins the Sangster.”

Jockey Dwayne Dunn was having his first race ride on Politeness and he was thrilled with the acceleration she showed in the final stages of the Bel Esprit Stakes, but he believes that the mare will take plenty of improvement into the Robert Sangster Stakes.

“I think the trick with her is to get her relax early and there being enough tempo early to allow her to finish off,” Dunn said.

“We have seen what we can get out of her and she has produced half of that today.

“I think that she still has plenty of improvement in front of her.”