ENGLISH stayer Polarisation’s Sydney Cup success will provide a significant boost to the Sydney autumn carnival and promote more international runners in coming years.

European trainers and owners will realise — if they didn’t already — they don’t necessarily need to send their best stayers down under to be competitive at The Championships and still be a very good chance of sharing in the rich prizemoney on offer here.

Godolphin’s Polarisation had collected just over $240,000 from 23 starts overseas but he earned $1.32 million with his Sydney Cup success — prizemoney that is unheard of for a handicap stayer in England and other European racing countries.

Australian Turf Club chairman Laurie Macri believes the internationalisation of Sydney’s The Championships is gaining momentum.

“I made a point on that very disappointing Saturday two weeks ago to talk to (Godolphin representatives) John Ferguson and Henry Plumptre and said what can we do to keep the two English horses here for the rescheduled Sydney Cup,’’ Macri said.

“It was a very productive conversation and the bottom line is Polarisation and Penglai Pavilion remained here for the race.

“To have Polarisation win the Sydney Cup was a great result and Godolphin have said they will definitely bring more horses next year.

“We are even talking to them about making improvements to Canterbury so it is a very positive outcome for Sydney racing.’’

media_camera Polarisation fends off late arrivals Who Shot Thebarman and Big Duke to win Saturday’s Sydney Cup. Picture: Simon Bullard

Trainer knows difference between apples and oranges

POLARISATION trainer Charlie Appleby certainly knows what type of stayer is needed to be competitive down under.

Appleby’s English stayers have earned just under $3 million prizemoney in Australia this season with Polarisation’s stablemate Qewy (Geelong Cup, Sandown Cup), Francis Of Assisi (Bendigo Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes), Oceanographer (Lexus Stakes) and Scottish (second Caulfield Cup) doing well in Melbourne last spring.

But as impressive as Polarisation has been to win the Sydney Cup “twice” in two weeks, is he good enough to win a Melbourne Cup later this year?

Polarisation will have to carry considerably more weight at Flemington than the 51.5kg he shouldered to win the Randwick two-miler and it is worth noting the last two winners of the Sydney Cup-Melbourne Cup double in a calendar year are legendary stayers Carbine (1890) and Makybe Diva (2004).

media_camera Veteran jockey Corey Brown is quickly re-establishing himself in Sydney.

Brown and royal blue seem to go well together

COREY Brown produced another masterly ride on Polarisation to finally secure a deserving Sydney Cup triumph after the devastation of the no-race two weeks ago when he was first over the line on the English stayer only to learn the result that day was void.

After four years in Singapore, Brown is quickly re-establishing himself in Sydney racing and his win in the famous Godolphin royal blue colours may lead to more opportunities from the all-powerful stable.

Finding the correct slot for BMW remains an issue

RACING NSW and the ATC will soon undertake a review of the Sydney autumn carnival and determine where improvements can be made.

It is understood that one area that will be addressed is carnival advertising with suggestions having different branding for The Championships, Golden Slipper Festival, and Sydney Carnival is too many and too confusing.

Race programming changes are always on the table but the push to move the Golden Slipper to the final Saturday in March and make it part of The Championships is not a fait accompli.

However, the positioning of The BMW at 2400m remains a problem Sydney race officials want to fix.

As suggested in this column last week, don’t rule out the Ranvet Stakes being moved to the final Saturday in March and The BMW being switched to All Aged Stakes Day to have a more cohesive progression of race distances for weight-for-age horses and stayers through the autumn.

I like the idea of finishing the carnival with the iconic Sydney Cup on the fourth Saturday in April as was the case by default last Saturday but this might be a tougher sell given less than 5000 race fans attended Randwick.

Tough month, but Randwick almost over the line

THE rail will be shifted out 10m (from 2m out) for Tuesday’s Anzac Day meeting when Royal Randwick hosts its fifth raceday this month.

Sydney’s very wet autumn has meant the Randwick track surface has remained in the heavy range through April and understandably the course proper is showing signs of wear and tear. But after Tuesday, Randwick gets a month to rejuvenate before the McKell Cup meeting on May 27.

media_camera Kerrin McEvoy drives home Schedule on the way to a winning treble on Saturday. Picture: Simon Bullard

Randwick treble keeps McEvoy on the march

KERRIN McEvoy’s form surge in the last two weeks — he has ridden 15 winners on all tracks including his Randwick treble last Saturday — has put him in contention for the Sydney jockeys’ premiership.

Brenton Avdulla has been leading the premiership all season and on 61.5 wins retains a healthy advantage over McEvoy (50 wins), Hugh Bowman (48) and Tim Clark (47) but with just over three months of the season remaining, this title race could go down to the wire.

Hawkesbury stand-alone always a hit

SYDNEY’S autumn carnival may have come to an end but the feature race action continues with the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting at the popular provincial track this Saturday.

There will be $1.185 million prizemoney distributed on the nine-race program that includes three Group 3 events — the $200,000 Hawkesbury Gold Cup, $200,000 Hawkesbury Guineas and $175,000 Godolphin Crown.

Autumn honour roll

SYDNEY AUTUMN GROUP 1 WINNERS

Chipping Norton Stakes: Winx. Trainer Chris Waller. Jockey Hugh Bowman.

Randwick Guineas: Inference. Hawkes Racing. Tommy Berry.

Canterbury Stakes: Le Romain. Kris Lees. Glyn Schofield.

Coolmore Classic: Heavens Above. Tim Martin. Tye Angland.

Ranvet Stakes: Our Ivanhowe (GER). Lee and Anthony Freedman. Kerrin McEvoy.

George Ryder: Winx. Chris Waller. Hugh Bowman.

Rosehill Guineas: Gingernuts (NZ). Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards. Opie Bosson.

The Galaxy: Russian Revolution. Peter and Paul Snowden. Kerrin McEvoy.

Golden Slipper: She Will Reign. Gary Portelli. Ben Melham.

The BMW: Jameka. Ciaron Maher. Hugh Bowman.

Vinery Storm Queen Stakes: Montoya’s Secret. Leon and Troy Corstens. Noel Callow.

Doncaster Mile: It’s Somewhat (USA). John O’Shea. Zac Purton.

TJ Smith Stakes: Chautauqua. Hawkes Racing. Tommy Berry.

Australian Derby: Jon Snow (NZ). Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. Damian Lane.

Sires’ Produce Stakes: Invader. Peter and Paul Snowden. Hugh Bowman.

Queen Elizabeth: Winx. Chris Waller. Hugh Bowman.

ATC Australian Oaks: Bonneval (NZ). Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. Hugh Bowman.

Queen Of The Turf: Foxplay. Chris Waller. Kerrin McEvoy.

Champagne Stakes: The Mission. Paul Perry. Damian Lane.

All Aged Stakes: Tivaci. Mike Moroney. Damien Oliver.

Sydney Cup: Polarisation. Charlie Appleby. Corey Brown.