Greg Polson previews Bathurst Friday August 18

Greg Polson - Friday August 18

An irrigation malfunction at Bathurst will make punting interesting at Bathurst on Friday but I am still planning to have something on a John Sargent-trained three-year-old.

Advertisement

Stewards have rated the Bathurst track a soft (5) surface but the additional track information tells us the track is actually a heavy (8) from the 450m to the winning post due to an irrigation malfunction.

Punters will need to tread warily but despite the additional hurdle placed before punters in terms of a heavy track in the straight I am still keen to invest on the John Sargent-trained The Big Boss in the On Trac AG Maiden Plate (1408m).

The Maiden Plate will be race six on the program so racing patterns for the day should be established giving punters some chance later in the day.

A three-year-old son of Al Maher, The Big Boss made a promising start to his racing career finishing a close third at Goulburn on debut coming from back in the field and hitting the line strongly over 1200m.

The Big Boss had shown up in three metropolitan trials finishing less than two-lengths form the winner in each of them on tracks designated as good and soft and with his debut run on a heavy (10) track already in his limited career has shown he is likely to be adept on any sort of going which is handy to know with the unknowns about the how the track may play on Friday.

The Big Boss hit the line at Goulburn in a manner that suggests he will relish stepping up in distance on Friday and with the benefit of race experience rates as the best bet on a day that has the potential to be extremely tricky for punters.

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Stakes Victory For Better Then Ready’s Epic Proportions
With victories in NSW, Victoria and Queensland since July, Ciaron Maher’s Better Than Ready gelding Epic Proportions has produced some strong efforts in his last four starts in the sunshine state, but none more so than his effort of Saturday to win the Listed BRC Keith Noud Stakes (1200m) when leading throughout. 
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 16
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2026 Inglis Classic Sire Break Up and Vendor Representation
The 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale is now online with 798 yearlings which is pretty much on on a par with last year’s 805 and if you believe variety is the spice of life this catalogue is going to make you happy.
Bivouac Filly Wins $500,000 Placid Ark Stakes - G1 Possible
Worth a whopping $500,000, the Listed WATC Placid Ark Stakes (1100m) for three year-olds was the richest race on the program at Ascot on Saturday and the short priced favourite Luana Miss scored an impressive win.
Almanzor Mare Back on Track
Classy mare Mary Shan has black-type targets on her agenda after bouncing back to winning form in Saturday’s Happy Hire Cup (1400m) at Tauranga.
Star WA Mare Storyville on Track for G1 Railway
Quality four year old mare Storyville (Overshare) collected her third stakes win and slammed the door of the Last Chance Saloon shut on a couple of potential Railway Stakes rivals in the G3 RJ Peters Stakes 1500m at Ascot.
Star Sprinter Jokers Grin Plays Winning Hand
On a big, boisterous opening day of The Pinnacles carnival at a packed out Ascot racecourse, WA’s reigning Horse Of The Year Jokers Grin was definitely the headline act.
2026 Inglis Classic Now Online
The catalogue for the 2026 Classic Yearling Sale – the fastest growing success story of the Southern Hemisphere’s early-season auctions – is now available online.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 15
Here is the full list of 110 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Exceedance Filly Breaks Maiden with G3 Champion fillies Victory
Classy Exceedance daughter Pure Excess galloped out of maiden company and into the headlines when she got up for a heartstopping last stride victory over the favourite, in the G3 WA Champions Fillies Stakes on opening day of The Pinnacles carnival at Ascot.