Gold Medals highlighted his remarkable durability and versatility with a victory in Saturday’s $125,000 The Australian Steeplechase (3400m) at Ladbrokes Park Sandown.
Since winning on debut as a two-year-old over 1000m at Warrnambool and later being placed at Stakes level at Flemington over 1400m as a three-year-old, the now seven-year-old son of Elvstroem has always been a talented horse on the flat and this preparation has added a Terang Cup victory and Casterton Cup second placing to his impressive record.
However the Symon Wilde-trained gelding is much more than just a handy flat horse and he proved that on Saturday by overcoming the determined race favourite Zed Em to win the Australian Steeplechase.
Wilde said Gold Medals was a unique horse and a credit to the staff at his Warrnambool stable.
“It’s a huge thrill and he’s an absolute stable favourite and I think he’s a great advertisement for our stable as a seven-year-old who is at the peak of his powers and mixing his jumps and flat racing,” Wilde said.
“He reminds of a horses I’d see in the bush when I was younger that would start off in a flying, they’d end up in a country cup and then go jumping later on.
“He’s so resilient and tough and is a really unusual horse.”
WATCH: Gold Medals win an epic battle with Zed Em
Wilde said Gold Medals would now be aimed towards the Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool.
Partnered by jockey Shane Jackson, Gold Medals ($3.20) got the better of Zed Em ($2.80F) by a long-head at the finish, with Marlo Man ($14) a further 12 lengths away in third.
Gold Medals’ win continued a career-best season for Wilde, who sits in seventh position on the Victorian trainers’ premiership table with 61 victories.
Wilde has recently opened a satellite stable at Ballarat and said it will enable him to access more tracks around the state.
“That Ballarat stable will be a real asset to us in being able to place horses as it will give us access to tracks on the other side of Melbourne like Pakenham and the training facilities there are first-class,” he said.
“We probably don’t get the best-bred horses through our yard but I think we give them every chance by placing them to win and I’m pretty proud of our staff and thankful to our owners for supporting us this season.”
“We love him. He’s got a home for life at our place.” Gold Medals holds a special place in @wilde_racing‘s heart. pic.twitter.com/gcQVjCrdNh
— Racing.com (@Racing) May 27, 2017
