Memories of the great Wallaby rugby union prop Stan Pilecki were revived when Raging Pole won at Doomben.
Pilecki, who died in 2017 aged 70, was one of Queensland’s most famous sportsmen, playing 122 games for the state and 18 Tests.
Immensely proud of his Polish heritage Pilecki, who was 31 before playing a Test, was known as “The Pole” in rugby circles.
He was from a different era of sports people who enjoyed a beer, a cigarette and a bet.
Pilecki owned several horses over the years with his best the smart mare Aquitaine who he raced with fellow Wallabies Paul McLean, Roger Gould and Andrew Slack.
Raging Pole is raced by Pilecki’s son Bart who also played rugby for Queensland.
“Dad was always raging against the Australian Rugby Union and ringing them up telling them what is wrong with the game,” Bart Pilecki said.
“So what better name than Raging Pole.”
Raging Pole ($3.50) gave his sire Better Than Ready his 18th individual winner from his first crop when he won a two year old colts and geldings maiden.
“He had no luck in a couple of races and he is up to something better,” trainer Tony Sears said.
First starter Our Swan Lake ($2.60) lived up to an impressive recent barrier trial when she overcame problems to score an easy win.
Our Swan Lake won a trial at Doomben two weeks ago in faster time than some open company horses.
A filly by sire Epaulette, Our Swan Lake is one of several horses Tony Gollan trains for Glenlogan Park Stud.
The new Anderson-Heathcote training partnership continued its good run when Our Mantra gave them their seventh winner in five weeks of operation.
