Farewell tour for Gold Medals

Evergreen Kiwi-bred jumper Gold Medals has started his final racing campaign, with the Warrnambool May Carnival his final goal.

The veteran two-time Grand Annual Steeplechase winner and reigning champion must retire by season’s end on July 31, as he approaches 13-years-old, the mandatory retirement age.

His connections have decided against racing him again in 2021 after his second Annual victory to concentrate on securing the grandest of finales in 2022. 

If he was to make it to the 5500m marathon, it would be his 13th run overall at the carnival after three times starting twice over the two days. 

It would also be his fifth Grand Annual in a row. 

Trainer Symon Wilde said he was hopeful his old champ could make it to May one last time. 

“What a great swansong for him to go into a fifth Grand Annual, where win, lose or draw it will be his last ever run,” Wilde told Racing.com. 

“He’s a Warrnambool legend and it would be great if he could get there and we could all celebrate him.” 

Wilde explained the normal summer process for Gold Medals that begins with water-walker sessions. 

“The last few years he’s gone up to Lee Evison’s and starts up there (Longwarry) before Christmas and then comes back to us,” he said. 

“Then it’s all about the one race. It might be the only race he has left even if everything goes to plan. 

“We’ve raced him less and less on the flat as the years have gone by. He doesn't seem to be all that interested so it’s hardly even worth running him. 

“But if you put him in a jumps trial, it turns him on so we’ll be using the trials more than the flat runs to get him there.”

Purchased by Wilde out of Westbury Stud’s 2011 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale draft for $30,000, Gold Medals has shown longevity, having raced in every season since he was a two-year-old.

 

Queen Bellissimo set to rule for Widdup in Midway

Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup will lead a two-pronged attack into Randwick on Saturday confident Queen Bellissimo will continue her consistent form in the Midway (1200m).

Having only missed the placings once in seven career starts (four wins), Widdup believes Queen Bellissimo can continue her fine form when contesting Saturday's Midway Handicap.

After winning comprehensively when resuming in a BM 78 Fillies and Mares race on The Warra day and then boxing on gamely for a narrow second last time at Rosehill, the four-year-old will be looking to stamp her authority on Saturday's BM 72 opposition.

Saluting in three of four attempts when aboard, Alysha Collett will once again partner the daughter of Swiss Ace.

"She's in really good order and is drawn nicely," Widdup said.

"She's an adaptable mare that's starting to develop really good form around her.

"Everything is going well with her and I'm expecting another strong performance."

Yet to have a runner contest a Provincial Championships Final, Widdup is hopeful the mare can progress and head down that route in the autumn.

"1400m is a tricky distance and you've just got to have the right sort of horse." Widdup said.

"I haven't really got a lot suited to it (Provincial Championships), but Queen Bellissimo will run 1400m and could be one that heads that way."