Wildes set Hissing Sid for a new challenge
The Bill and Symon Wilde-trained galloper will race for the first time beyond 2350 metres, a distance he covered for the first time last week at the May Racing Carnival.
Symon Wilde said yesterday the listed Ramsden Stakes was an after-thought for Hissing Sid but the positives of extending his preparation by a week outweighed the negatives.
With Wangoom Handicap winner Arch Symbol contesting the 1400-metre Murray Cox Handicap on the same program, Wilde said it was a fact-finding mission for both horses to shape their spring campaigns.
Hissing Sid recovered quicker than usual from his Warrnambool Cup run, which Wilde put down to the absence of a six-hour float trip which are usually part of the five-year-old gelding's Melbourne engagements.
"When we saw he came through the race unscathed and he was bright and well there were probably more reasons to run than not," he said.
"It fits in beautifully and it only shaves a week off his spell. If he happened to win it would help in his quest to get into the (Melbourne) Cup field. He gives you every indication he will get it (3200m) and seemed to settle well in the Warrnambool Cup. He looks like a genuine stayer but you never know until you try."
The Wildes planned to spell Hissing Sid after the Warrnambool Cup, with the Caulfield and Melbourne cups in mind.
"It's a little bit of an after-thought," Wilde said.
"They're fit and hard too and we're probably not at peak fitness for two miles. If he gets beaten it's not really the end of the world because he's going for a spell."
Hissing Sid's breeding suggests he should be competitive at 3200 metres. Hissing Sid's sire Golden Snake carries Northern Dancer bloodlines through Danzig, while his dam Domitrix was sired by 1986 Melbourne Cup winner At Talaq.
There is a strong May Racing Carnival influence in the Andrew Ramsden, with Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m) winner Sir Pentire and Galleywood Hurdle winner Desert Master in the field. Sir Pentire is one of five Robbie Laing-trained runners in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes.
His quintet includes Warrnambool Cup placegetter Joontoo Gemini. Desert Master, trained by Russell Cameron, was first past the post in the 2006 Andrew Ramsden Stakes before losing the race on protest to Derringer.
Warrnambool trainer Aaaron Purcell saddles up Urban Force, while Winslow's Ciaron Maher has emergencies Satu San, July and Marc Of Thunder.
