Trainer has Set The Bar High for gelding

Set The Bar High may turn out to be aptly named.

Even before a winning debut at Warrnambool earlier this month connections were thinking high.

Trainer Symon Wilde is already looking ahead to the South Australian Derby in the autumn but first Set The Bar High will attempt a city victory in the Planet Ruler Handicap (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Win, lose or draw the three-year-old is likely to be put aside after Saturday with Wilde keen to map out a Derby program..

The Set The Bar High story dates back to his dam, Youthful High, who was trained by Wilde and his father Bill to win seven races for the pair after starting her career in South Australia with Tom Dabernig.

“We raced the mother years ago and she was a really good mare for us,” Wilde said.

“We ended up selling her as a broodmare when her career had finished but we ended up buying a couple of the foals back which were Itz A Debacle and Set The Bar High.

“Some of the same owners of Youthful High have bought into this horse.

“It was a good little journey with Youthful High and this horse looks like he’s got her ability, more so than what the older (half) brother has.”

Wilde considered running Set The Bar High over 1600m at Flemington last week but reasoned an extra week would be more beneficial.

He also saw enough speed in the three-year-old in his debut win to suggest Saturday’s 1400m trip was ideal.

But long term he has his eye on longer races as Youthful High was adept over a middle distance and was placed at 2600m at Flemington.

“The mare was a stayer and I reckon this bloke is similar,” Wilde said.

“We were surprised with how much speed he showed at Warrnambool where he sat up on the pace and we thought an extra week and a fortnight between runs might suit him a bit better.”

Stablemate Sister Kitty Mac will try to extend her winning sequence to three when she lines up in the Isca Handicap (1100m) following victories at Dunkeld and Werribee.

“She’s a speedy, very quick horse and I think that’s played into her hands in her two wins,” Wilde said.

“She is talented. Not many win their maiden and then a (benchmark) 64.”