Polytrack specialist Revolution showed why he was more effective on the alternative track following another tidy winning display on Sunday.
The Unencumbered colt was always travelling in a striking position in the $70,000 Class 3 Division 2 race over 1100m as favourite Autumn Assault (Benny Woodworth) eye-balled Filibuster (Michael Rodd) at the head of affairs.
Switched out three wide for his run at the home turn, Revolution ($20) had about five lengths to make up on the two leaders, but had the race well in his keeping the moment he went full bore down the middle of the track.
Softened up by her early effort to cross from a wide post, Filibuster caved in first. Autumn Assault mounted a stiffer resistance but he was also left with not much of a say when Revolution’s acceleration went up a notch or two.
Once Tan’s colt had shaken them off, he scooted away towards what looked like a foregone conclusion, but not without having to stave off a late challenge from Imperium (Glen Boss) by three parts of a length. Autumn Assault ran third another 1 ¼ lengths away.
The winning time was 1min 5.65secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
Trainer Alwin Tan said there were no two ways about the reason behind the Thai-owned sprinter’s return to the winner’s circle, it was the switch in the underfoot conditions.
“He’s a Poly type of horse as we know and Duric knows him better now,” said the Singaporean handler.
“I told him to let them go if the pace is on and that should give him a chance to come home.
“There aren’t many good Polytrack races. So I’ll pick and choose his races as he goes along.”
Duric, who has ridden Revolution at his last two starts, said the wheels do tend to come off on turf, but when reverted to Polytrack, it’s a completely different horse altogether.
“He’s a quirky horse. On grass, he’s hard to control and steer, but he’s a lot more tractable on Polytrack,” he said.
“He travelled nicely but I was worried about Benny’s horse. When I popped him out three wide, I had my whip in the left hand and he quickened so good.
“He just loves the surface. He’s half the horse on grass, there’s plenty of good races on Poly and we just have to keep him fresh.”
Thanks to that fourth success from nine starts, not forgetting his three seconds, Revolution has taken his earnings past the $200,000 mark for the Falcon Racing No 7 Stable.
