Group One performer Polly Grey has returned to her roots in New Zealand to conclude her racing career, under the care of part-owner Kylie Fawcett.
Polly Grey, a daughter of Azamour, initially won six races for Matamata horsewoman Kylie Fawcett, including the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m).
She also secured placings in the Group 2 Japan Trophy (1600m) and Group 3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) before heading to Australia to join Chris Waller's stable.
During her time in Sydney, under the tutelage of Chris Waller, Polly Grey added five more victories to her record.
These included notable wins in the Group 3 Epona Stakes (1900m), Listed Gosford Cup (2100m), Listed Lord Mayors Cup (2000m), Listed ATC Cup (2000m), and the Group 3 JRA Plate (2000m).
She also achieved several Group placings, including a third-place finish in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2050m) at Pukekohe.
With plans to breed her with Champion New Zealand Sire Proisir this season, it was decided to bring Polly Grey back to New Zealand to conclude her racing career.
Kylie Fawcett expressed her delight at having Polly Grey back in her care and looks forward to her upcoming races in New Zealand.
Polly Grey is entered for races at both New Plymouth and Te Rapa, but the decision is leaning towards New Plymouth due to track conditions.
Fawcett stated, “I am thrilled to have her home. It is nice for both of us that she has come back to end her racing career where she started it.”
She added, “We are really waiting to see what the tracks end up. Obviously, we want a bit of rain around, and I feel like Te Rapa is going to dry out a bit, so it is more than likely going to be New Plymouth.”
Polly Grey has had previous success at the Taranaki racecourse, having won her only other start on the track in the greys race in 2019.
While initially entered for both the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m), Fawcett has ruled out the latter, with hopes for rain before the Livamol next month.
Fawcett mentioned, “I have withdrawn her from that (Arrowfield Stud Plate) as it doesn't look like Hastings is going to get any significant rain between now and then. We will just look at another path to get her to the last day, providing there is a little bit of moisture in the track.”
Looking ahead to Polly Grey's breeding plans, Fawcett said they would assess her condition after this weekend's race to determine when she will be served and plan her remaining races accordingly.
“We are going to scan her after this race and see where she is at,” she said. “It (future starts) will be determined by when she gets in-foal and the weather conditions, so we will plot around those the best that we can.”
Before the weekend, Fawcett will also participate in Taupo on Friday, where Midnight will aim to return to the winner's circle. Fawcett said, “Midnight is going back to Taupo where hopefully she can go as well as she did last time there.”