$4000 Polanski joins racing's greatest ever bargain buys

THEY were bought cheaply, but these unwanted gallopers went on to become some of the greatest racehorses in Australia.

Jockey Jay Ford leads Takeover Target to a maiden Group 1 win in the 2004 Salinger Stakes at Flemington.

They were barely rated and bought cheaply, but these unwanted gallopers went on to become some of the greatest racehorses Australia has seen.

On Saturday, three-year-old Polanski could join a list of equine underdogs who belied their measly pricetags to win big races when he competes in the $1.5 million Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.

Polanski

Bought for: $4000

Prizemoney $1,173,565

Repaid the investment: 293 times over (and counting)

Trainer Robbie Laing bought him under the premise that "so many times in racing a horse will pass away and get a good one (progeny) in his last crop)". So when his sire Ratki - who son six Group 1 races in Europe - died, Laing put up the modest sum of $4000 to secure the direct descendant of Phar Lap, something he only learned after the Melbourne Autumn Yearling Sales. After wins in the Listed UCI Stakes and Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes, Polanski struck his biggest pay day when he won the Victoria Derby and the $900,000 first prizemoney.

POLANSKI'S RISE TO PROMINENCE

News_Image_File: Polanski (left) wins the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes last start. Picture: Jay Town

Vo Rogue

Bought for: $3000

Prizemoney: $3,118,100

Repaid the investment: 1039 times

The brilliant gelding won 26 of his 83 starts over distances from 1010m to 2040m.

His stunning frontrunning style made him a favourite for punters, as he picked up more than $3.1 million in prizemoney.

Vo Rogue won six Group 1 races - including the Australian Cup (1988-89), George Main Stakes (1989), and five more which now carry Group 1 status.

The old fella died last year at the age of 28

News_Image_File: Vo Rogue in his customary racing position - way out in front and making his rivals chase.

Manikato

Bought for: $3500

Prizemoney: $1,154,210

Repaid the investment: 329 times over

The Australian Racing Hall of Famer burst on to the scene in the late 1970s and swept all before him. As a two-year-old he completed the 1978 Blue Diamon Stakes-Golden Slipper Double, won the Futurity Stakes four times (1979, 1980, 1981 and 1983) and the William Reid five times (1979, 1980-1983). After Kingston Town, Manikato was the second horse to break the $1 million prizemoney barrier.

From 47 race starts he won 29 of his races, most at the top level. After succumbing to a virus shortly after retirement, Manikato was buried within sight of some of his greatest wins, in "Manikato's Garden" at Moonee Valley, where the time-honoured Group 1 Manikato Stakes is run.

News_Image_File: Manikato wins the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.

Kingston Town

Bought for: Never reached the $8000 reserve

Prizemoney: $1,605,790

Repaid the investment: 200 times over

One of the absolute legends of Australian racing started his career as an unwanted galloper and became the first Australian horse to break the $1 million prizemoney barrier. After his asking price of $8000 was not met, the great Kingston Town went on to prove all the doubters wrong, winning an amazing 30 of his 41 starts from distances between 1400m and 3200m.

Trained by the legendary Tommy Smith, Kingston Town won three consecutive Cox Plates (1980-82), two George Main Stakes (1981-82), two Caulfield Stakes (1981-82), the Spring Champion Stakes (1979), Rosehill Guineas (1980), AJC Derby (1980) and a Sydney Cup (1980) over 3200m for good measure.

He was responsible for one of the sport's most iconic race calls when, at the tail of the field and in a seemingly impossible position approaching the final turn of the 1982 Cox Plate, caller Peter Cook declared "Kingston Town can't win" before the superstar weaved his way along the inside for a stunning win.

News_Rich_Media: Kingston Town wins 1982 Cox Plate

Takeover Target

Bought for: $1375

Prizemoney: $6,019,400

Repaid the investment: 4377 times over

The ultimate rags-to-riches story of an injury-riddled galloper who went on to conquer the world, literally.

Queanbeyan cab driver and hobby trainer Joe Janiak went to a tried horse sale in 2003 and came away after spending $1250 (plus $125 GST) on a Celtic Swing gelding with dodgy legs.

Injury kept him from making his race debut until he was a four-year-old but he went from demolishing a 1200m maiden field at Queanbeyan by seven lengths to winning the Group 1 Salinger Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in six months.

From there, Takeover Target's career really took off. He won 21 of his 41 race starts, including eight times at Group 1 level. At his peak he was officially recognised as the world's best sprinter.

Takeover Target took Janiak further than his taxi ever could, taking out the Group 2 King's Stand Stakes (1000m) at England's Royal Ascot and Group 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) in Japan in 2006, and the Group 1 Singapore KrisFlyer International Sprint (1200m) in 2008.

He sustained a career-ending injury when he cracked the cannon bone in his near hind leg in the 2009 July Cup at Nemarket, but is currently enjoying a well-earned retirement on the NSW mid-north coast.

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