A powerful late sprint carried progressive filly Polygon to an impressive victory at Te Rapa on Sunday when she destroyed her rivals in to take the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m).
Fresh off another comprehensive win in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at the venue a fortnight earlier, the Lance Noble-trained daughter of Highly Recommended had been well favoured to figure prominently, however there were some who maintained doubts about her ability to close off a strong 2000m.
Those doubts were extinguished in the space of a few strides as Michael McNab set his charge alight inside the final furlong after weaving a passage between runners from the rear of the field.
Polygon simply hit the turbo button and flashed past her rivals to win untouched by two lengths from Sedaka who finished strongly wider out.
2023 Royal Stakes Replay – Polygon
Noble, who had taken out the final of the Dunstan Stayers Championship one race earlier with Aquacade, admitted he was a little worried when he saw just how far the filly was from the leaders with 600m to run.
“I was a little bit concerned but I have to give Michael full credit as he didn't panic,” he 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 haven't nominated her for the Oaks (Group 1, 2400m), but I think we will be putting a late nom in now.”
Bred and raced by Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who also bred and race Aquacade, Polygon has now won three of her eight starts and over $148,000 in prizemoney.
McNab has no doubts that Polygon has more wins in store after he had to switch to Plan B early in the race.
“The plan was to go forward but they went quick so I took my medicine early and went back,” McNab said.
“I was able to pick a good run through them and she was really electric.
“I never touched the bridle the whole race and she just switched off, when I asked her, she just felt explosive.
“I would definitely be looking at the Oaks now.”
Polygon is out of the five-race winner Polyantha and comes from an extended family of black-type performers including 2004 Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) runner-up Galway Lass.
She now sits on the third line of Fixed Odds betting at an +700 quote for the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in March behind unbeaten filly Legarto (+300) and Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m) winner Prowess (+500).
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