TOUGH jumper Gold Medals will try to win his second Australian Steeplechase in three years when he runs in the $125,000 race at Sandown on Sunday.
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Gold Medals, trained by Symon Wilde, ran second in the prestigious jumping race last year after winning the event in 2017.
The nine-year-old, who ran second in the Brierly-Grand Annual Steeplechase double at the Warrnambool Carnival earlier this month after winning the both features last year, has pleased Wilde with his work following the Brierly-Grand Annual runs.
"I'm pretty happy with Gold Medals," the Warrnambool-based trainer said. "He had a good gallop on the course proper with Melissa Julius in the saddle on Tuesday.
"His work was solid without being sensational. He's had the same preparation leading into the Australian Steeplechase as he's had the last two years.
"He's bright and happy and is very fit. I'm expecting him to run well in the Australian again."
Gold Medals carried 69kgs in running second to Don't Be Shy in last year's Australian Steeplechase and carries the same impost in the 3900-metre race on Sunday.
"It's the same weight scale as last year," Wilde said. "He still got to carry the 69kgs. It may be a small field with only six rivals but it's a very good race. It's a very even field.
"I've got a healthy respect for Sir Lopez as he's trained by Patrick Payne. Patrick is a brilliant trainer and it's for sure Sir Lopez will be hard to beat."
Fellow south-west trainer Simon Ryan saddles up Dormello Mo in the jumps feature. Dormello Mo was an unlucky sixth in Mount Gambier on the flat at his last start after running third in the Brierly Steeplechase.
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