Kiwi Breds fight Out Grand Annual

Media Release - Thursday May 6

Another Kiwi duo will go down in racing folklore after their herculean battle at Warrnambool on Thursday.

Gold Medals (outside) and Zed Em go head-to-head in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m). Photo: Pat Scala (Racing Photos)

In Bonecrusher versus Our Waverley Star fashion, New Zealand-bred jumpers Zed Em and Gold Medals went toe-to-toe from the 600m in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) and left their younger rivals in their wake.

The evergreen gallopers were inseparable going over the last fence, but Gold Medals was able to eke out a length lead on the flat, which he was able to maintain despite the rallying efforts of topweight Zed Em.

It continued a great rivalry between the pair, with Gold Medals beating Zed Em in the Grand Annual in 2018 before his compatriot was able to even the ledger a year later, and both placed behind fellow Kiwi-bred Ablaze in last year’s running.

Gold Medals’ trainer Symon Wilde was left in awe after the win of the 11-year-old and fought back tears as he addressed media in the race’s aftermath.

“He is (a champion) to us,” Wilde said. “He is not the greatest horse in the world, but he is an amazing horse.

“That is something else. With 600m to run the crowd got up and it’s incredible the rivalry that these two have.

“That horse (Zed Em) was fantastic with the weight (71kg). It just goes to show those two are still the kings.”

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.

“What an athlete to be able to turn up year after year,” Wilde said. “He is almost like a pet and the staff at home all love him.

"There's no other horse that has won his first race in a maiden over 1000m as a two-year-old back in 2012 and he's still racing today as an 11-year-old over 5500m.

Advertisement

“Dad just picked him as a yearling at Karaka based on value and from an athletic point of view.

“We’re lucky we train at Warrnambool. The beach and our country environment has helped with his longevity and I think in later years we have learnt how to manage him. He has just been aimed at what he is good at, which is May.”

Gold Medals’ last victory came in the Grand Annual three years ago and jockey Clayton Douglas, whose father Viv trained three winners of the famed race, was thrilled to partner him to a second Annual win.

“He is the only horse I have ridden in the Annual,” Douglas said. “He is an incredible horse and it was a massive effort by the team to get him back up.

“He hasn’t had a jumps (race) this prep. We were umming and ahhing with the Brierly. I wanted to run him in the Brierly, but Symon said he didn’t want to wreck him for the Annual.”

Douglas said it wasn’t a faultless run, but Gold Medals showed his tenacity to rally late.

“He made a couple of mistakes early, but I had him in an ordinary spot where I didn’t really want to be in and I was jumping a bit blind, but he is just incredible,” Douglas said.

“He is one of those horses that just travels so well in the run. A long way out I was still travelling and even at the second to last I really asked him for a deep effort and he went on and won the race.

“Zed Em was very strong to the line as well. It was a great competition between the two of them and there is not much between them.”

For good measure the Wilde-trained Georgethefifth, a son of Sakhee’s Secret, finished third to complete a New Zealand bred trifecta. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Waterfront Grand Annual Stpl 5500m

Warrnambool Track: Soft(7) Time: 6:51.30
1
Gold Medals
- 11g Elvstroem (AUS) x Lady Mulroy (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Clayton Douglas 68.5
2
1.0
Zed Em
- 10g Zed (NZ) x Dont Kick My Float (NZ) (Paris Opera (AUS))
Tnr: Patrick Payne Rdr: A N Kuru 71
3
11.0
Georgethefifth
- 7g Sakhee's Secret (GB) x Sister Veronica (NZ) (Magic Of Sydney (AUS))
Tnr: Symon Wilde Rdr: Ronan Short 64
4
26.0
Yensir
- 8g Sir Percy (GB) x Yensi (GB) (Doyen (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: S Pateman 66.5
5
34.0
Bit Of A Lad
- 7g Ladoni (GB) x Regal Heights (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: S Jackson 69
6
35.7
Pentelligentsia
- 7g Pentire (GB) x Blinding (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe (USA))
Tnr: Grant Young Rdr: Nathan Newton 64
7
40.2
My King's Counsel
- 6g Myboycharlie (IRE) x Lady's Counsel (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: Ms K Durden Rdr: D Horner Jnr 64
8
44.7
Napoleon
- 8g Shinko King (IRE) x Gironde (NZ) (Val D'Arno (USA))
Tnr: Ms R Frost Rdr: W Gordon 64
9
47.0
Heistheone
- 10g Istidaad (USA) x Ruff Diamond (NZ) (Woodborough (USA))
Tnr: J R Wheeler Rdr: S O'Malley 64
10
77.0
Spying On You
- 11g Yamanin Vital (NZ) x Nancy Wake (NZ) (Personal Escort (USA))
Tnr: Grant Young Rdr: T Ryan 66.5
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday June 29
Here is the full list of 53 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NZ Racing Woman of the Year
Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle has been immersed in racing from a young age and she was recognised for her individual contribution to the industry at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday.
Euro G1 – Bridesmaid No More and Two Time Derby Hero
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who shook off his G1 bridesmaid tag winning the Group I Grand Prix de Saint Cloud in France, while in Ireland the Coolmore machine kept the winning run going to take out the Group I Irish Derby (1 ½ m).
G1 Aussie Season – Best of the Best
The $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday was the last of 76 Australian Group I races run this season that produced 57 individual Group I winners, so let’s take a look at the best of the best.
Matahga Makes it a Memorable Weekend for Lawson
Waikato horseman Simon Lawson has an eye for a bargain, and the product of one of his purchases turned into his first stakes winner over the weekend.
New kids on the block add fresh blood to Vibrant Victorian breeding scene
With 11 new stallions standing in Victoria this coming breeding season, including the winners of three Group 1 races on their ‘home’ soil, the short and long-term future looks increasingly bright for the state’s vibrant industry. 
Sires With Winners - Monday June 30
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bergerson Honoured at Entain Industry Excellence Awards
Sam Bergerson, New Zealand’s leading trainer, was recognised by his peers when receiving the top gong at the Entain Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday night.