Polar Blast survives challenge

THE market suggested it would be a walk in the park, but Polar Blast’s trainer Janel Ryan wasn’t surprised it was anything but after the gelding secured its fourth straight victory at Cluden Park yesterday.

Sent out an overwhelming $1.30 favourite in the Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m), the five-year-old and jockey Brad Pengelly survived a spirited challenge from second elect Deputy Dan ($6) to win by half a head.

It was Polar Blast’s fourth straight win, and fifth in 17 career starts, after he was freshened up after an easy threelength victory at Cairns on October 31.

Polar Blast took the sit behind leader Deputy Dan before winning an engrossing two-horse duel in a headwind down the straight.

“We knew it was going to be a really hard race to win today because everything in it was pretty well on equal terms, especially Roy Chillemi’s horse (Best Hoffa, fourth) and Deputy Dan,” Tolga trainer Ryan said.

“He’s been working well and there’s no reason he couldn’t win. We thought he’d be running second … and that’s exactly how it panned out.”