Australia: Polygon gets fitted for class in Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic

Polygon was the dominant 3-year-old filly in New Zealand in December and January, winning group stakes at a mile and 1 1/4 miles.

Where Polygon ranks in Australia will be better known after her debut in that country in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old fillies at a mile at Kembla Grange Racecourse on Thursday evening.

Polygon was the 4-1 third choice in early betting on Wednesday in a competitive field of 15 in the $131,700 Kembla Grange Classic, part of an eight-race program that begins at 9:15 p.m. Eastern or 6:15 Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Trained by Lance Noble of New Zealand, Polygon has won 3 of 8 starts in her career, and is in peak form. She won the Group 2 Royal Stakes at 1 1/4 miles by 2 3/4 lengths, the most prestigious win of her brief career.

In the Kembla Grange Classic, Polygon breaks from post 10 in a field of 14 led by Pavitra and Cal Di.

Pavitra, an Australian-bred by American Pharoah, has won 2 of 9 starts, and was second by a length in the Group 1 VRC Oaks at 1 9/16 miles at Flemington on Nov. 3 in her final start of 2022.

In her 2023 debut, Pavitra was fifth of nine in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Feb. 18, losing by three lengths at a distance below her best. Pavitra has won at 7 1/2 furlongs and about 1 1/8 miles. She was the 3-1 favorite on Wednesday.

Call Di, rated at 7-2 on Wednesday, has won once in four starts, a maiden race at seven furlongs on the infield Kensington course at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Feb. 1. Call Di followed that victory with a third by slightly less than two lengths in the Group 2 Armanasco Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne on Feb. 25 in her graded stakes debut.

Wolverine, a winner of 3 of 10 starts, can be a factor from off the pace. She was seventh of 13 in the Group 1 Surround Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Randwick on Feb. 25 and should appreciate an easier field.