Poland can step up - Moroney
Mike Moroney is confident Autumn Stakes winner Poland can match up to Group 1 company in the Australian Guineas on Saturday.
Poland has started once before at the highest level when he finished 11th in last year's Caulfield Guineas.
Moroney is expecting Poland to perform better on Saturday after coming through his Caulfield win in good shape.
"I don't run my horses in Group 1 races unless they are up to it," Moroney said.
If Moroney's faith in the three-year-old was dented in the spring, the So You Think colt restored it with a tough first-up win in the Autumn Stakes over 1400 metres.
Moroney concedes the Australian Guineas is going to be another step up in grade but he is keen to see how Poland handles it this time around.
"We've got to take on better company and we've got to see whether he can measure up. He came through his last-start win really well," Moroney said.
Moroney admitted he hadn't given the All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley on 13th March a lot of consideration for Poland, but if he ran well on Saturday he would think about a start.
The placegetters from the Australian Guineas over the past two years have all found themselves in the All-Star Mile, with the exception of 2020 third placegetter Soul Patch.
Three of the five runners who contested both races gained starts via wildcards and Poland will have to be granted one to get into the field for the $5 million contest.
Poland is 13.00 to land the Australian Guineas and will break from barrier one under Craig Williams.
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