The final field for the 2014 Group 2 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes has been released and will feature the competitive debut of Polanski in 2014.

Polanski will contest the Group 2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia

Also included in nominations for the 2014 C.F Orr Stakes, trainer Robbie Laing was expected to finalise his star Irish import as a starter in the Group 1 feature, but has instead opted to chase an Autumn Stakes crown.

Concluding his 2013 Spring campaign with three back-to-back wins that were capped by a resounding group 1 victory in the Victoria Derby (2500m), the Rakti colt was undoubtedly 2013’s standout stayer and appears on track for a successful Autumn following a decent showing at last week’s Cranbourne barrier trial.

While the undoubted pre-post favourite to begin his 2014 campaign in style, Polanski will have to produce an all-round performance if he is to win, particularly in a field that features such names as Thunder Fantasy.

Trained by Anthony Cummings out of his Caulfield stables, the impressive three-year-old colt has claimed two victories from only seven starts and capped off his maiden season running third behind Polanski in the Group 1 Victoria Derby on November 2; proving he can more than match it with top-level competition.

The Autumn Stakes has been outlined by Cummings as the first competitive lead-up event for a likely tilt at the Group 1 Australian Guineas before then moving on to any of the Group 1 Australian Cup, Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas or Group 1 Rosehill Guineas.

“He is a quality three-year-old and he will go to Melbourne and be a live chance in the Guineas there” Cummings told Sky Racing HQ.

Leading trainer Peter Snowden will be hoping the building form of Carillo will carry through to the Autumn Stakes; the three-year-old’s first attempt at a Group level race.

Finishing second in a Mornington event last week, the Teofilo colt has claimed two wins and three places in only six race starts to date and is widely tipped as one to watch throughout the 2014 calendar.

All in all, 10 runners have been included in the final field for the 2014 Autumn Stakes.

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 2014 Autumn Stakes Final Field