Jockey Hugh Bowman called on experience gained from two previous Victoria Derby wins to guide Polanski to victory in the Group One Classic at Flemington on Saturday.

Bowman said he was worried about the early tempo in the $1.5 million race but his concerns had eased by the half-way point.

"That's when I thought it was going to need a good horse to beat him, Bowman said.

"I've been here before and I said to myself `don't disappoint the horse, let him gallop'."

He said Polanski, bought for $4000 by trainer Robbie Laing, was a stronger horse than his two previous Derby winners - Lion Tamer (2010) and Sangster (2011).

"Lion Tamer may have been a bit more brilliant than him but this horse is definitely stronger," Bowman said.

"My gut feeling is that he is going to get better as he gets older."