2014 PJ Bell Stakes results: Politeness aims for G1

A change in training and riding tactics have proven the catalyst for Victorian filly Politeness to score a barnstorming Group Three win at Randwick.

Trainer Robert Smerdon said the three-year-old had long shown talent but failed to live up to expectations, prompting him to tinker with his approach.

“The less I do, the better she goes,” Smerdon said.

Politeness, Craig Williams
Politeness, Craig Williams

“I probably made a mistake training her too strong and we were riding her too close. We changed all that round and that’s the real horse.

“She’s a Group winner now and entitled to be and I think she can go on with it.”

Politeness drew the outside stall in the 18-horse PJ Bell Stakes field and settled near the back before unleashing a withering run down the outside.

Backed from $11 into $9, Politeness scored by 1-1/4 lengths over Cosmic Endeavour ($15) with Miniature ($15) another neck away.

Smerdon admitted to some concerns when Craig Williams had Politeness at the tail of the big field, but he was so taken by her finishing burst he will now consider a start in the Group One Sportingbet Classic in Adelaide on April 26.

The Group Three JHB Carr Stakes at Randwick on the same day is also an option.

“She’ll go home Sunday. She could come back to Sydney for the James HB Carr Stakes in two weeks or go to Adelaide,” Smerdon said.

Williams said Politeness was a class above her rivals on the wet track and won with something in reserve.

“She was dominant,” Williams said.

“She got the visitor’s draw, but she really played with them today and she’s a quality filly.”

Race 3 – 1:25PM THE OTHER WOMAN P J BELL STAKES (1200 METRES)
Of $200,800.1st $120,480, 2nd $40,160, 3rd $20,080, 4th $10,040, 5th $4,016, 6th $2,008, 7th $2,008, 8th $2,008 GROUP 3
Handicap, Apprentices cannot claim.Track Condition: Heavy 9 Time: 1:12.48 Last 600m: 0:37.17 INTERIM RESULTS

 

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Starting Price
1 14 POLITENESS Robert Smerdon Craig Williams 18 54kg $9
2 11 COSMIC ENDEAVOUR Gai Waterhouse Tommy Berry 1.3L 14 54kg $15
3 9 MINIATURE Peter Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 1.6L 12 54kg $15
4 8 NORTHERN GLORY Gai Waterhouse Tim Clark 2.1L 17 54kg $4.80F
5 19 SCATCAT Brett Cavanough Ms Kathy O’Hara 5.2L 13 54kg $31
6 17 MISS TENPINS (NZ) Bjorn Baker Chad Schofield 5.3L 9 54kg $61
7 20 DUBLIN LASS John O’Shea James McDonald 5.8L 6 54kg $16
8 2 BOUND FOR EARTH John O’Shea Nash Rawiller 6.4L 4 57kg $5.50
9 5 CHAMPAGNE CATH Chris Waller Jay Ford 6.5L 8 55kg $14
10 12 FLIGHT ACADEMY Jason Coyle Joao Moreira 6.6L 15 54kg $11
11 4 EVERAGE Craig Carmody Hugh Bowman 6.7L 10 55kg $13
12 13 OH SO ADORABLE Garry Clarke Ms Winona Costin (a) 6.9L 11 54kg $31
13 1 TWILIGHT ROYALE Bjorn Baker Michael Rodd 7.2L 16 57kg $41
14 21 MESMEREYESER Joseph Pride Jason Collett 9.8L 3 54kg $17
15 3 MONTSEGUR Peter Snowden Damian Browne 11.2L 2 56kg $51
16 6 CALMING INFLUENCE Chris Waller Damien Oliver 11.6L 1 54kg $9
17 18 NUCLEAR CLASS Tas Morton Christian Reith 13.3L 7 54kg $101
18 15 FARE WELL Clarry Conners Glyn Schofield 15.9L 5 54kg $101
22 GLENBAWN DAME John P Thompson 0
10 SHAHAD Gai Waterhouse Jim Cassidy 0
16 PAPILLON ROUGE John O’Shea Glen Boss 0
7 MISS STEELE Michael Kent Corey Brown 0
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