Exciting two-year-old colt Polanski made it two victories in a row at Caulfield
Exciting two-year-old colt Polanski made it two victories in a row at Caulfield today leading from start to finish in the $80,000 The Golden Fleece and Court Jester Plate (1600m).
A $4,500 purchase at the 2012 Inglis Melbourne Autumn Yearling Sale, trainer Robbie Laing said the son of Rakti would now head for a spell before being set for the Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) in the Spring.
“Today’s race is about the time of the year that they used to have the Gibson Carmichael Stakes (1600m), over the past few years I’ve had Subiaso and Scelto both run well in that race and then end up in the Derby,” Laing said.
“In last year’s Gibson Carmichael the horse than ran sixth was Fiveandahalfstar, so horses that can run a mile in the autumn they’re going to be our stayers in the Spring.”
Asked how Polanski measured about against the likes of Scelto and Subiaso, who finished eighth and ninth in the Victoria Derby respectively, Laing said he was probably better.
“He’s won two in town in the autumn, those two horses were never good enough to win in town but ran reasonable races in the Derby,” he said.
“Three weeks ago I would have sounded a dill (aiming at the Derby), but he’s won over 1400 and he’s won over a mile. If you ran a market on the Derby now, Drago would be favourite and he’d be second or third favourite you would think.”
Allowed to bowl along in the lead by jockey Dean Yendall, Polanski ($2.50F) kicked a length in front at the top of the home straight before appearing in trouble when Celeritas ($9) ranged up on his outside at the 200 metre mark.
Responding to the urgings of Yendall, Polanski found plenty under pressure to fight off the challenge and record a 1.3 length victory over Celeritas, with Eagle Island ($3) finishing off well from the tail of the field to finish third a further 1.5 lengths away.