Trainer Robbie Laing with his genuine Victoria Derby hope Polanski. Picture: Jay Town Source: Jay Town / News Limited
POLANSKI, the $4000 yearling, could derail the Darley juggernaut in the Victoria Derby at Flemington tomorrow.
In one of those rag-to-riches stories that prove horse racing is a great leveller, modestly bred Polanski was purchased by trainer Robbie Laing "on a whim".
"So many times in racing a stallion will pass away and get a good one in his last crop,'' Laing explained.
"When his sire, Rakti, died, I thought I might get one of his yearlings.
"I always had a rap on Rakti as a racehorse, he was a very good middle distance horse.''
Rakti won six Group 1 races in Europe during an outstanding race career. He was rated the world's best miler in 2004 after wins in the Prince of Wales Stakes and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
He was retired to the Irish National Stud and was later "shuttled" to stand at Chatswood Stud where he died three years ago following a paddock accident.
The stallion had not set the world on fire at stud so when his last crop were offered for sale as yearlings in 2012, there was very little interest.
Laing had a theory about the progeny of Rakti and put it to the test after securing his yearling for just $4000 at the Melbourne Autumn Yearling Sales.
"Rakti was a cantankerous type and many trainers thought they would be in for a 'war' with his sons, so many were gelded,'' Laing said.
Polanski made his race debut in March and finished near last in a Cranbourne maiden. Picture: Jay Town Source: News Limited
"I wanted to try a Rakti as a 'bull', the same as Rakti raced himself. This colt is out of a three-quarter sister to Ballroom Babe, New Zealand's champion filly, so the pedigree is all right as long as you were prepared to give a Rakti a go.''
Laing revealed by December last year he began believing the-then unraced-Polanski was a potential Victoria Derby contender.
"We had him broken in and by Christmas time, this colt had developed so much I told some of the guys at the stable that this is a nice horse and I wouldn't mind betting he will be in the Derby come the spring,'' Laing said.
"They just thought I was full of it but I just liked him. He has this great, big sweeping stride and does everything right in his races.''
Polanski made his race debut in March and finished near last in a Cranbourne maiden.
Since that inauspicious start to his race career, the colt has won three of his next seven starts, was disqualified in another, and is a two-time stakes winner of the Listed UCI Stakes and Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes.
Laing's Derby dream is now very much alive, particularly after Polanski drew ideally in barrier one.
"He'll being 'good', he'll show enough speed to hold his position and I can envisage him second or third on the fence getting a sweet run with a lap to go,'' Laing said. "He can stay well so I think we are right in this race.''
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