Over the weekend at Royal Randwick jockey Corey Brown repeated his Sydney Cup 2017 winning ride on the Charlie Appleby-trained UK raider Polarisation who enjoyed success in “take-two” of the two mile classic.
Sydney Cup 2017 winner Polarisation handed UK-based Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby a Group 1 win in NSW over the weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
A fortnight ago Brown rode the Godolphin-raced Polarisation to “win” the subsequently voided edition of the $2 million Group 1 Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m).
The autumn feature of Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ from April 8 was declared a no-race due to the tragic race fall of Almoonqith.
Polarisation though proved to be the superior stayer in the re-run, this time holding off a gallant late challenge from the other horse involved in the heavy fall two weeks back Who Shot Thebarman.
Despite having to shift in the run down the straight, Echo Of Light gelding Polarisation officially won the Sydney Cup by a neck over Chris Waller’s always honest eight-year-old Who Shot Thebarman.
Saturday was the fourth straight year the Kiwi-bred Who Shot Thebarman contested the race and he netted his second runners-up title after an earlier narrow loss to stablemate Grand Marshal in 2015.
The late challenges came from Who Shot Thebarman along with Darren Weir’s Sydney Cup favourite Big Duke, who also had his chance at running down the eventual winner before crossing under a length away for third.
All honours though went to Polarisation who outstayed his competition and earned a likely shot at the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.
Makybe Diva (2004) was the last stayer to win the Sydney Cup – Melbourne Cup double in a single calendar year.
Brown was vocal in his disappointment two weeks ago about the decision to call off the original running of the Sydney Cup, but was happy to take out top honours again in the official re-run.
“They can’t take it off us this time,” he told the media on Saturday.
“If they want to run this race a third time, he would win it again.
“I told them they should have left it a fortnight ago because it’s going to be the same result so this is very satisfying.
“Obviously with all the media and the drama of a fortnight ago, to come out again and I wouldn’t say defy all odds, but the history of it, I felt everything was working against us.
“It is a big relief and to do in these famous royal blue colours of Godolphin is a dream come true.”
Brown celebrated his second Sydney Cup victory having previously ridden Mr. Prudent to victory back in 2001.
Blake Shinn was aboard the runner-up Who Shot Thebarman and said only the galloper’s 57kg top weight compared to the 51.5kg of the winner got him beaten.
“He had every chance,” Shinn said.
“[He] travelled like the winner, the winner just had 51.5kg, the telling factor. Brave run.”
Singapore-based jockey Glen Boss flew in for the ride on Weir’s Sydney Cup favourite Big Duke after the suspension of Craig Williams and said post-win that the horse simply wound-up too late.
“I thought I was the winner at the top of the straight but he just peaked late,” Boss said.
Pre-nomination Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au on the world’s richest handicap race currently have the Sydney Cup winner Polarisation listed as a $26 shot so, visit them today for access to the top Group 1 racing markets.
2017 Sydney Cup Results & Finishing Order
Randwick Race 8 – 22/04/2017
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | POLARISATION (GB) | Charlie Appleby | Corey Brown | – | 6 | 51.5kg | $6.50 |
| 2 | 1 | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 0.2L | 13 | 57kg | $12 |
| 3 | 6 | BIG DUKE (IRE) | Darren Weir | Glen Boss | 0.7L | 2 | 52kg | $3.70F |
| 4 | 8 | ANNUS MIRABILIS (IRE) | Stuart Webb | Dean Holland | 6.1L | 4 | 52kg | $31 |
| 5 | 5 | CHANCE TO DANCE (IRE) | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards | Christian Reith | 6.2L | 3 | 53kg | $19 |
| 6 | 7 | HARLEM (GB) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Chad Schofield | 6.4L | 7 | 52kg | $17 |
| 7 | 10 | PENGLAI PAVILION (USA) | Charlie Appleby | Kerrin McEvoy | 7.9L | 14 | 52kg | $5.50 |
| 8 | 9 | MISTER IMPATIENCE (GB) | Michael Moroney | Jay Ford | 10.6L | 5 | 52kg | $61 |
| 9 | 11 | KINEMA (IRE) | Chris Waller | Tim Clark | 11.5L | 12 | 52kg (cd 52.5kg) | $21 |
| 10 | 3 | TALLY | John O’Shea | Tommy Berry | 11.6L | 1 | 55kg | $12 |
| 11 | 4 | BOOM TIME | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Cory Parish | 31.1L | 9 | 53.5kg | $11 |
| 12 | 12 | LASQUETI SPIRIT | Lee Curtis | Bobby El-Issa | 40.2L | 8 | 51.5kg | $19 |
| 13 | 13 | PENTATHLON (NZ) | John Wheeler | Jeff Penza | 69.9L | 11 | 51.5kg | $41 |
| FF | 2 | LIBRAN (IRE) | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | – | 10 | 56.5kg | $19 |
| – | 16e | SELF SENSE | David Brideoake | – | – | 0 | – | – |
| – | 15e | ROCK ON (NZ) | John Sargent | Jeff Penza | – | 0 | – | – |
