Grand Annual start firms for Gold Medals
Trainer Symon Wilde says the positives outweigh the negatives about Gold Medals taking his place in the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool.
Gold Medals won Tuesday’s Brierly Steeplechase over 3450m but has to extend out to 5500m if he’s to win Thursday’s feature of the Warrnambool three-day carnival.
Wilde said Gold Medals had recovered well from his narrow win over Zed Em on Tuesday.
“I’ve had a look at the track and the drier it stays the more inclined I am to run,” Wilde said.
“The question mark is his staying ability to run the marathon trip and if we’re ever going to try it, dry ground is the time to do it.
“The horse ate up this morning, he didn’t leave any feed.
“He went to the beach this morning, had a wade, trotted up and to me he looks pretty good.
“He can’t be re-handicapped for the win and he’s in top form.”
Gold Medals will carry 65.5kg on Thursday, 0.5kg less than he had on Tuesday.
Wilde said Gold Medals was trained from a paddock which he noted had aided the gelding in his recovery after Tuesday’s win.
The gelding also does a lot of his training on the beach.
“Because he’s eight years old and he’s so quiet he spends all of his time in a paddock in front of mum and dad’s house,” Wilde said.
“We’re also lucky enough to access the beach and well as having the paddock training for him.
“He’ll be wondering around at home now, having a pick of grass and I think that will help him in backing up two days apart.
“Moving around helps get the lactic acid out of the system.
“He would have been moving most of the night and moving most of the day and hopefully that aids in his recovery.”
The Patrick Payne-trained Zed Em, who won the Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank in March, remains favourite at $3.50 ahead of stablemate No Song No Supper at $5.
No Song No Supper won the Grand Annual in 2016 before running second last year behind Regina Coeli.
Gold Medals is third favourite at $5.50 with Tuesday’s third placegetter Monarch Chimes next pick at $7.
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