Warrnambool horse Gold Medals looks likely to represent Australia in a feature American jumps race later this year with a new jockey to partner him abroad.
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Gold Medals is being set to run in the $650,000 Grand National (Grade 1) Hurdle at Far Hills in New Jersey on October 19 with Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde confirming to The Standard champion jumps jockey Steven Pateman would have the ride if the nine-year-old made the trip.
Pateman had his first ride on the 2018 Grand Annual Steeplechase winner in a jumps trial over 11 fences at Warrnambool on Friday morning.
Wilde said he was excited at the prospect of his stable star competing in America's biggest jumps race.
"We've still got a few boxes to tick regarding the overseas trip but it looks very promising, we may go," Wilde said.
"We're in discussions with the National Steeplechase Association over there. They have been helpful.
"Gold Medals' owners are excited. It's a massive plus to have Steve saying he'll ride the horse.
"Steve rode at the Far Hills meeting back in 2015 so he's got experience around the track which is a real bonus."
Pateman, who rode Zed Em to defeat Gold Medals in last month's Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool's famous three-day carnival, was delighted with how the tough jumper performed in Friday's trial.
"Gold Medals feels a million dollars," the three-time Grand Annual Steeplechase-winning jockey said.
"I'm sure he would be very competitive. We've got our fingers crossed we can tick all the boxes and make the trip."
Gold Medals ran second in the Brierly-Grand Annual Steeplechase double this year after winning both races in 2018.
The tough 'chaser won the 2017 Australian Steeplechase before running second in the big jumps feature in 2018 and 2019.
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