By Kelsey Riley
Godolphin's Polarisation (GB) (Echo Of Light {GB}) had been first past the post during the original running of the Sydney Cup on Apr. 8, and while he had to wait two weeks to officially earn in his first black-type win, he got the job done again for Godolphin's British branch and trainer Charlie Appleby. His jockey Corey Brown had been one of six riders to miss the stewards' call to void the race approaching the straight due to the fact that the broken down Almoonqith (Dynaformer) and jockey James Doyle were still on the track, but the fact that he ran out the two miles just two weeks ago appeared to have no ill-effect on the 5-year-old gelding on Saturday. Who Shot Thebarman (NZ) (Yamanin Vvital {NZ}), who was taken down by Almoonqith when that one fell two weeks ago, also proved to be none worse for the wear, bouncing back to finish a game second on Saturday.
Polarisation took up a stalking position in fifth as the filly Lasqueti Spirit (Aus) (Beneteau {Aus}) circled the field to take up her customary position on the lead, with Polarisation's stablemate Penglai Pavilion (Monsun {Ger}) keeping close order on her heels. Who Shot Thebarman sat right about midpack in the two path as the field passed the stands for the first time, with favoured Big Duke near the rear. Lasqueti Spirit had opened up a 10-length advantage by the time they turned into the backstretch, and she nearly doubled that lead by the time she reached the final bend. The remainder of the field began to rapidly eat into her advantage, however, passing the 800 metre mark, and she was swallowed up passing the 400 as Penglai Pavilion hit the front and Polarisation and Who Shot Thebarman loomed on his outside. Polarisation took the lead from a stubborn Who Shot Thebarman at the top of the lane as Big Duke rallied from the back, but the Godolphin colourbearer had enough in the tank to hold off that pair and win the race, this time officially.
“It's a big credit to the stable and their staff to get the horse back, obviously having the Grand Final two weeks ago and me giving him a solid ride in a two-mile race, to back up two weeks later and do the same thing again is a big feather in their cap,” Brown told Racenet.com.au.
Appleby's assistant James Ferguson said Polarisation would return to the UK and enjoy a break before future targets are decided.
Polarisation had spent his first two seasons on the track plying the handicap ranks for trainer Mark Johnston before making one start for John Ferguson during his stint as a jumps trainer–a second in a two-mile hurdle last May. Moved to Appleby thereafter, he ran three times in Britain last summer, his best finish being a second in a mile-and-a-half Epsom handicap. The Sydney Cup was not only Polarisation's first stakes win, but his first time ever running in a stakes race.
Pedigree Notes…
Polarisation is the first stakes winner for the Group 2-winning Echo Of Light (GB), a son of Dubai Millennium (GB) who died after covering for just four seasons. Polarisation's dam, the winning Concordia, is out of the G1 Epsom Oaks winner Snow Bride (Blushing Groom {Fr}), and therefore a half-sister to Sheikh Mohammed's Derby, Arc and King George winner Lammtarra (Nijinsky) as well as the dam of G1 Prix Jean Prat winner Aesop's Fables (Distorted Humor). Darley's stud director Liam O'Rourke said, “Concordia has been very good, Polarisation was only her second foal and after he looked the best horse in the void race, it was pleasing to see him win so emphatically. She has had a nice colt foal by Golden Horn (GB) and she is currently visiting Teofilo (Ire). She also had a couple of fillies, a 3-year-old by Invincible Spirit (Ire) and a 2-year-old by Dubawi (Ire) that should hopefully be running this season.”
Saturday, Randwick, Australia
SYDNEY CUP-G1, A$2,159,500, ATC, 4-22, 3yo/up, Open Handicap, 3200mT, 3:29.16, Heavy.
1–&@#POLARISATION (GB), 51.5, g, 5, by Echo of Light (GB)
1st Dam: Concordia (GB), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Snow Bride (USA), by Blushing Groom (FR)
3rd Dam: Awaasif (CAN), by Snow Knight (GB)
O-Godolphin; B-Darley; T-Charlie Appleby; J-C W Brown;
A$1,329,500. Lifetime Record: 24-6-6-3, A$1,598,995.
2–Who Shot Thebarman (NZ), 57.0, g, 8, Yamanin Vital (NZ)–
Ears Carol (NZ), by Carolingian. O-D M O'Leary, H T O'Leary, M
J O'Leary, S C O'Leary, Mrs J C Nugent-O'Leary, Mrs A M
O'Leary, Mrs F J O'Leary & Mrs L O'Leary; B-B J & Mrs L E
Anderton; T-C J Waller; J-B Shinn; A$380,000. Werk Nick
Rating: D+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
3–Big Duke (IRE), 52.0, g, 5, Raven's Pass (USA)–Hazarayna
(GB), by Polish Precedent (USA). (€50,000 2YO 2014 Arqana
May Breeze Up Sale) O-Australian Bloodstock, Get The Dukes
Out Racing, Leroys No 2, Bartholomeusz Racing, Buckling, G &
M Barnett Racing, J Shaw, Carty Racing, S McInnes, P Johnson,
C Caudell, O Barry; B-Mount Coote Stud & Richard Pegum; T-D
K Weir; J-G Boss; A$200,000.
Margins: 0.2 len, 0.7 len, 6.1 len
Also Ran: Annus Mirabilis (IRE), Chance to Dance (IRE), Harlem (GB), Penglai Pavilion (USA), Mister Impatience (GB), Kinema (IRE), Tally, Boom Time, Lasqueti Spirit, Pentathlon (NZ), Libran (IRE).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
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