Wildes gamble on Cox Plate for Arch Symbol
BETWEEN the predictable nomination of stable stars Hissing Sid and Baughurst for the Caulfield Cup, Warrnambool training combination Bill and Symon Wilde threw in a curve ball by making the first payment for sprinter Arch Symbol in the Cox Plate.
Bill Wilde quickly put the Spring Racing Carnival nominations in context yesterday by explaining Arch Symbol would be tested over middle distances next campaign.
"It's a bit of a half-hearted nomination," Wilde said.
"You'd feel pretty bad about it if he proved he could run 2000 metres and won a nice race along the way and you hadn't nominated."
The Cox Plate (2040m), Australia's premier weight-for-age race, will be run at Moonee Valley on October 24.
Arch Symbol is a lightly-raced sprinter which capped his last preparation by winning the $100,000 Wangoom Handicap (1200m) in Warrnambool on May 6.
"The horse has never been tested beyond 1400 metres," Wilde said.
"He's by Archway and the mare (Centore) has produced a few horses who can stick on a bit.
"He has given every indication he'll run a mile. By the time we get him up to a mile we'll have a better indication whether he can get over 2000 metres."
Baughurst, a proven group performer, was entered for the Caulfield Cup last year but never contested the race.
Hissing Sid is an exciting stayer which finished his autumn campaign with metropolitan victories at Caulfield and Flemington before success in the listed $130,000 Warrnambool Cup (2350m).
The Wilde stable also nominated him for the Melbourne Cup (3200m), although Bill indicated if he didn't measure up to Caulfield Cup (2400m) company he was likely to target some of the peripheral 2000-metre races at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
Wilde is hopeful Hissing Sid brings greater maturity to his spring campaign.
"I hope with his last preparation under his belt he will relax a bit more in his races," he said.
"We haven't mapped out a (lead-up) plan yet.
"We'll just tiptoe forward and see how we go.
"The Caulfield Cup would want to be at least four or five runs in.
"He does have to win a nice race coming through (to qualify)."
