By Michael Manley

Symon Wilde is still on a high from Gold Medals’ Grand Annual Steeplechase win and it’s going to take a long time for him to come down from it.

Over a week after the race, Wilde is adamant it was the best day he had ever experienced on a racetrack.

“It was such a great race. It was all about the two horses Gold Medals and Zed Em and they put on such a show. What a rivalry,” Wilde said.

“That’s what racing is about. A lot of the bad stuff gets highlighted but this was such a great moment for horse-racing. It captivated the crowd and it was just a wonderful race.”

“When Gold Medals won emotions spilled over from me and also my staff. It was all about the horse and what he did.”

Wilde said the 11 year-old Gold Medals was set for one race, the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool in 2021, and wouldn’t run again this year.

Wilde said he would set him again for a fifth Grand Annual Steeplechase which would be his swansong if he ran in it. Gold Medals has won two Grand Annuals and can also boast a second and a third from four starts in it.

“There’s no suitable race to run him in, so I think I’ll set him for next year and train him similarly,” he said.

On Sunday, Wilde started another son of Elvstroem, Elvison in the P.Pullen and Co Energy Two Rivers Steeplechase over 3800 metres at the picturesque Casterton track.

Wilde said he was disappointed he had to scratch Elvison from the Brierly Steeplechase last week as he had a bit of muscle soreness.

“We’ve taken him to Casterton for a steeple school and he jumped well there since. He also won there last year so the track suits him,” Wilde said.

“He’s a bit of a dasher and tracks like Casterton and Warrnambool suit him.”

Wilde said the seven-year-old gelding Elvison could have the makings of a horse which could compete in feature jumps races.

“He’s a second season fencer now. He gives the indication he could handle a marathon trip. He’s got to make the progression to those better class races so hopefully we can start to see that.”

Casterton hosted five jumps races on Sunday consisting of three maiden hurdles, a feature hurdle and a feature steeplechase event were the first five races on the card.