Star stayer Polanski has another week in the paddock before commencing the build up to his autumn campaign. The $4000 buy has been spelling since a few days after his dominant AAMI Victoria Derby win on 2 November and trainer Robbie Laing says he will return to work in around a week’s time.
“He’ll have this week out and then he’ll come back in,” Laing told RSN’s Correct Weight. “It’ll be six weeks next Saturday since the Derby.
“He didn’t immediately go to the paddock, but he’ll have been out a good five-and-a-half weeks, which is great. We’ve had some beautiful weather and the horse looks terrific.”
The $220,000 Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on 8 February is the race Laing has identified as the first-up option for the son of Rakti, who will then progress to the $500,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on 1 March.
Laing then has to decide whether to back up Polanski in the following week’s $1 million Darley Australian Cup (2000m) at weight-for-age or head to Sydney.
“It’s a flip of the coin, Australian Cup or go (straight) to Sydney,” he said. “The aim there would be the AJC Derby, especially now it’s worth $2 million.”
The 2400m ATC Australian Derby will be run at Randwick on 12 April.