'Chairman's' a pointer to Godolphin cup hopes
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Godolphin stayer Polarisation looked in prime condition as he breezed up the home straight at Canterbury in final preparation for Saturday's G2 Chairman's Handicap at Randwick, Sydney.
With assistant trainer James Ferguson in the saddle, he went to the line strongly, indicating he is ready for his first run in nearly seven months.
Polarisation is trained in Newmarket and Dubai by Charlie Appleby, who is aiming to carry on where he left off in the Australian Spring, when he sent out five winners in two and a half weeks on Melbourne tracks.
"We had a nice mile and a half canter around, going steady for the first 800 metres, then building up the pace slowly from there," Ferguson explained.
"In the straight, I let him roll along just to get his lungs open, and he did it well. I was happy with him. He seems in very good order," he pointed out. The gelding will have a quiet morning on Friday, the eve of his first Australian engagement.
Sydney form followers will no doubt be concerned that Polarisation and stablemate Penglai Pavilion, both G1 Sydney Cup contenders, are attempting staying distances first-up following lengthy spells away from the racetrack.
But Ferguson does not see this as an issue. "There's nothing more we could have done with them. They are ready to do themselves justice," he said.
"Both were affected slightly by the weather, but overall they have handled it great.
"We are very confident they'll stay. And we know that coming over here with stayers, we hold an advantage and can exploit a market that is more European than English," he explained.
Ferguson points out that Polarisation's run in the Chairman's Handicap will be a pointer to the Sydney Cup chances of both Godolphin stayers, who have travelled from Britain via Dubai.
"If Polarisation goes out and runs a big race in the Chairman's on Saturday, he will establish a serious benchmark for us, and we'll know exactly where we stand with Penglai Pavilion.
"At present, it is very difficult to split the two horses. If you look at their pieces of work here at Canterbury, they are both very similar.
"On form, you would have to go for Penglai Pavilion -- but that could easily change," he pointed out.
Ferguson also said the Godolphin team had "all come together" following the death of The Gold Trail, who suffered a fatal injury when fourth in the Listed Mornington Cup last Saturday.
"You get connected to them (the horses), particularly when you travel a horse. You do get attached.
"We've been able to regroup, and with Polarisation and Penglai Pavilion both going well, we've been able to pick ourselves up and look forward to the weekend. In this game, you have to move forward," Ferguson said.