1 Jan 2023We were delighted to see our bonny filly Polygon dispel any doubts about her ability to run a middle distance with a powerhouse performance at Te Rapa to add the G2 Royal Stakes to her burgeoning record.
Beautifully prepared by Lance Noble, the Highly Recommended three-year-old was a smart winner of the G3 Eulogy Stakes over a mile at her previous appearance and she handled the step up 2000 metres in her ample stride.
She was given plenty of time to find her feet by Michael McNab and settled second last in the early running.
They began to pick up ground 700 metres from home and when asked for a supreme effort in the straight, Polygon turned on the afterburners and raced away to have 2.8l on her closest rival.
“We have to give Michael full credit, as he didn’t panic,” Noble said.
“Going out wide would have been the wrong thing to do so he just had to bide his time. When the gaps came, she was quite explosive.
“We didn’t nominate her for the G1 New Zealand Oaks, but I think we will be putting in a late nom now.”
A lead-up program to the Classic has yet to be locked in, but a return to Te Rapa is a likely option.
“We might come back for the G2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic, she loves it here,” Noble said.
McNab was having his first ride on Polygon and was suitably impressed and believed she will cope with the 2400 metres of the Oaks at Trentham.
“The plan was to go forward, but they went quickly so I took my medicine early and went back,” he said.
“I was able to pick a good run through them and she was really electric. I would definitely be looking at the Oaks now.”
Polygon is a daughter of the Encosta De Lago mare Polyantha, who was a smart performer and won five races up to 2100 metres and is a half-sister to the G2 Moonee Valley Oaks winner Pure Harmony.
We sold Polyantha’s filly by U S Navy Flag filly to Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing at Karaka earlier this year for $90,000 and the dam produced a daughter of Hello Youmzain this season before visiting Sword Of State.