Connections were gutted when Polarisation (GB) was first past the post in the infamous Sydney Cup no race but were all smiles second time around when the import defeated Who Shot Thebarman in Saturday's $2 million Group I Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick.
The lightly weighted, Charlie Appleby-trained gelding, held the challenge of the game top weight Who Shot Thebarman (Yamanin Vital), who was one of the fallers in the first edition of the race, by a short-neck with favourite Big Duke (GB) (Raven's Pass) a neck back in third. (photos Steve Hart).
I told them they should have left it a fortnight ago, it's going to be the same result," winning rider Corey Brown said.
"Going past the post first time I was a little bit concerned, I haven't ridden a lot of European stayers and he was barely touching the bridle.
"It wasn't until we got to about the 1400m that he really got on the bit and travelled up behind the stablemate, then at about the half mile I pulled him out of the stablemate's back because it didn't look like he would be going that far."
Appleby's assistant James Ferguson said it had been a harrowing time with Polarisation having to pass a vet inspection earlier this week.
"I've got a great team here, it's been an absolute pleasure," Ferguson said.
"Full credit goes to the team back home too. We are just here to reap the rewards but it's a team effort.
"I'd like to thank the team at Canterbury, the whole of the ATC have been good to us, we've been well looked after. It's just made it all worthwhile."
Little more than a useful handicapper in Great Britain who went over the hurdles at Sandown back in December, Polarisation (GB) becomes the first stakes winner and first Group I winner for Echo Of Light who was put down after fracturing a hind leg in a paddock accident at Kildangan Stud in Ireland back in 2012.
The son of Dubai Millennium was a sale-topping €1.2 million purchase at the Goffs Orby Sale.
He won seven races including the Group II Prix Daniel Wildenstein and two runnings of the Group II Strensall Stakes.
Polarisation (GB) also boasts a classic female line.
His winning dam Concordia (Pivotal) is a half-sister to Champion European 3YO Lammtarra (Nijinsky) whose 4 wins included the Epsom Derby, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe., as well as the stakes winners Saytarra and Kammtarra.
