Trainer Robert Smerdon has revealed that Group 1 winning mare Politeness is likely to return to the races in the 2016 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 27.
Politeness scored maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 edition of the Myer Classic. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Politeness was sent to the spelling paddock after she finished a close second behind Turn Me Loose in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 7, but she has now returned to work and was given a very soft jump-out at Caulfield yesterday.
The talented mare is set to head to Sydney for races like the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 12 and the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 9, but Smerdon told The Punters Show that he will give the Street Sense mare another opportunity at Group 1 level in the Oakleigh Plate.
“I wanted to be really soft on Politeness this morning, it was nothing more than a track gallop on the course proper for her,” Smerdon said of the jump out.
“I’ll keep her nice and fresh towards the Oakleigh Plate before she goes to Sydney, where hopefully they will get plenty of rain again.”
Politeness has shown plenty of ability since he made her racing debut in February of 2013 and she took out the Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1500m) as a younger horse, but she was able to stamp herself as one of the best mares in the country with a string of impressive performances during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.
The five-year-old returned to the races in the Group 3 How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 19 and she stormed home from the tail of the field to record an impressive victory before she proved that win was no fluke when she took out the Group 3 Cape Grim Beef Stakes (1200m) in similar fashion at the same venue on October 10.
Politeness had never previously proven that she was capable of running out a strong mile and she went into the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) at Flemington on October 31 without a lead-up run over 1400 metres, but she was able to storm home late against the pattern of the day to record a maiden win at the highest level of racing before she was arguably unlucky not to beat Turn Me Loose in the Emirates Stakes.
Politeness is currently available at 2016 Queen Of The Turf Stakes odds of $13 and she is on the sixth line of betting behind Winx ($5), Stay With Me ($9), Royal Descent ($9), First Seal ($9) and Azkadellia ($11).
