After careful consideration, trainer Robbie Laing has decided to take the softer first-up option with Victoria Derby winner Polanski on Saturday.

Polanski was entered for both the Group One weight-for-age CF Orr Stakes and the Group Two Autumn Stakes against his own age and Laing made the final decision to opt for the latter only five minutes before acceptance time on Wednesday.

“If you are going to be successful in racing, keep yourself in the best company and your horses in the worst,” Laing reasoned.

He said the expected heat at Caulfield on Saturday which forced the race start times to be brought forward was a consideration along with the ratings in each race with Polanski’s rating of 108 being 30 points higher than any other horse in the Autumn Stakes.

The Autumn Stakes will be run at midday with the CF Orr at 2.45pm.

“The race will be earlier in the day when it will be a little bit cooler,” Laing said.

“The ratings in the race he’s in, most of the field is rated under 70.

“In the CF Orr most of them are above the 100. The prizemoney (in the Orr) is better. But it’s not better if you don’t win.

“It’s not his grand final and I didn’t want to crush him at his first-up run.”

Polanski will take on a field of 10 in the Autumn Stakes (1400m) and will jump from the outside gate with Dean Yendall aboard.

His opposition includes Listed winner Rock Hero from the David Payne stable and Victoria Derby third placegetter Thunder Fantasy.

With Polanski bypassing the Orr Stakes, it left Cox Plate winner Shamus Award and Group Two Stan Fox Stakes winner Eurozone as the two three-year-olds in the eight-horse field for Australia’s first Group One of 2014.

Polanski’s main autumn aim in the ATC Australian Derby (2400m) in April and he is the $3.20 favourite for the Classic in the TAB’s early market.