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Polarisation has proved too strong in the re running of the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
With the feature event having been called off mid race due to a fall three weeks ago, Polarisation was one of a handful of runners to complete the race on that occasion when first past the post.
Last seen when running fourth at Doncaster in September the Charlie Appleby-trained runner settled off the speed with Lasqueti Spirit setting a very fast early tempo, leading by ten lengths at one point.
Coming to the turn, Corey Brown edged Polarisation forward, taking the lead at the top of the straight with Who Shot Thebarman prominent and Big Duke running on.
Staying on strongly in the straight, Polarisation ran out a narrow winner over the tough Who Shot Thebarman in second with Big Duke not far away in third.
The five-year-old gelding ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 110, two pounds above his previous best achieved at Epsom last year when runner up.
Polarisation is the lowest rated winner of the race since Mahtoum in 2005 who also ran to 110, well below 2016 winner Gallante who returned a figure of 117.
The Godolphin runner is the now the fifth winner of the race in as many years to be bred in the UK, Niwot in 2012 the last Australian bred horse to win the race.
Resuming and winning over 3200m is no easy feat and Polarisation is the first Sydney Cup winner to achieve that since Just A Dancer in 1991.
The Racing and Sports field strength value of 113.6 is very low for a Group 1 race and well below the 119.2 of last years renreal.
This is outlined by the fact that Polarisation had not even run in yet alone won a black type race leading into the Sydney Cup and had not yet won past 2816m.
Who Shot Thebarman in second was outstanding again continually showing up and running well in staying feature races.
The Chris Waller-trained runner returned a Timeform figure of 122 with the 57kg, his highest since last years Sydney Cup.
Big Duke in third was also solid again and ran to 110, five pounds below his win in the Chairman’s Handicap.