Lightly raced three-year-old Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended) took the step up to stakes company in her stride as she dashed home to take out the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Gr.3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m).
The Group Three contest was transferred to the Waikato venue after racing at Awapuni was abandoned last Saturday and that played into the hands of the Lance Noble-trained runner who was originally being aimed at the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.
“We hadn’t really thought too much about this race as we were thinking of tackling the Eight Carat Classic with her,” Noble said.
“When they transferred the race to Te Rapa we decided to take a serious look as we thought the field looked within her scope and there was no Legarto there, as there is likely to be in the Eight Carat.”
Noble was referring to Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) who is unbeaten in four starts and looks like providing a major obstacle for her age-group rivals in the coming months after producing a stylish gallop between races earlier in the day.
In the hands of South African rider Warren Kennedy, who is in white-hot form, Polygon provided notice that she will be a tough competitor during the summer months as she came with a sustained burst in the home straight to defeat visiting Taranaki stablemates Librarsi (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Sophmaze (NZ) (Derryn).
“We were pleased with the way she had come on since finishing fifth in the Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m) last time and we did want to try her over a little more ground,” Noble said.
“She had a good barrier and Warren made good use of it, while I also think the blinkers on for the first time really helped her concentrate.
“Her form has been very solid and it is great to see her take another step up today.
“The next task will be to work out where we go as the Eight Carat on Boxing Day might just come up a bit quick now.
“I am keen to see how she goes over even further, so the right race might be the Royal Stakes (Gr.2, 2000m) back here at Te Rapa on New Year’s day.
“If they are going to get a distance like that then they are likely to do it in their age group and with an economical trip like she got today, I don’t see any reason why she wouldn’t be strong at the end of 2000m.”
Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud couple Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Polygon is out of the five-race winner Polyantha (Encosta De Lago) and comes from an extended family of black-type performers including 2004 Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) runner-up Galway Lass.
