Gold Fields chasing victory in Golden Mile

Missing a start in the All-Star Mile with Gold Fields forced his trainer Logan McGill to search for alternatives.

One of those comes at Bendigo on Saturday in the Golden Mile (1600m), however that meeting maybe in jeopardy with racing suspended in Victoria.

Racing Victoria called off Wednesday’s Sandown meeting after two races when it was discovered a licensed person was told by health authorities they were on the same commercial flight on March 12 as someone who had tested positive to COVID-19.

The participant has not displayed any symptoms of the coronavirus, but RV said it had no alternative but to call off Sandown along with two meetings on Thursday at Kilmore and Pakenham.

RV will seek to resume racing on Friday if the test is negative.

Should the gelding run on Saturday and racing continues into next month, McGill is looking at the VOBIS Gold Mile at Caulfield on April 18 for Gold Fields.

McGill says he has noticed improvement in Gold Fields since the gelding finished fifth in the Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on March 14, the same day as the All-Star Mile.

“He came through his run in the Anniversary really well after he didn’t have a great deal of luck,” McGill said.

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“We’ve been a little bit stiff with the barrier draw being out in 14 on Saturday, but I don’t think it will affect him too much.

“He’s drawn wide in previous races where he’s been able to blend across without having to fire him up.

“That allows him to find the lead and Bendigo has a nice straight run to the 800-metre turn.

“So barrier 14 might sound daunting, but I’m not that concerned.”

Gold Fields provided former jockey Stephen Baster with a fairytale last ride victory when successful at Sandown in November and the trainer had been hoping for an All-Star Mile start.

Gold Fields did not attract enough votes to get into that race, so McGill set a revised program, planning a three run campaign into next month’s Caulfield assignment.

“We gave him a fortnight off after the Lord Stakes and the plan was to build him up to hopefully get a run in the All-Star Mile, but that didn’t eventuate,” McGill said

“While he was pretty wound up for the Anniversary Vase, I definitely think he’s taken another step forward in his fitness leading into Bendigo which will lead into the VOBIS Gold Mile at Caulfield.”