Groundhog Day for Baughie

Wilde co-trains Baughurst with his father Bill, who was dispatched to the non-TAB meeting at Hamilton just as he was last year. Baughurst missed a run in last year's Caulfield Cup and lined up in the Coongy, this year he was first emergency and again tackled the consolation race.

So when Wilde opened his wardrobe and saw the tie that he wore to last year's meeting, he couldn't resist slipping it on in the hope that history could repeat itself.

''Well I sent dad to the non-TAB meeting again so the same tie had to come out, just like last year,'' Wilde said.

''I reckon he's been going better than last year as well. His last two runs were absolute bottlers and he was close up in two group 1s behind some of the best, really he was a moral in this.''

Now an eight-year-old, Baughurst continues to belie his age despite a number of back and joint problems throughout his career. He missed a year and a half of racing from May 2005 through injury, and had another injury enforced break of 40 weeks from August 2007.

While lesser horses would have succumbed to similar problems, Wilde said Baughurst was a unique animal and that a carefully planned training schedule enabled the veteran's career to continue.

''He's got a lot of problems so he rarely has a saddle on all week. He races on Saturdays and goes to the beach all week and it seems to do the trick, we're so lucky to have the beach at our disposal and you can see it works wonders for a horse like him''

Jockey Ben Melham rode a calm race on Baughurst before sending his mount out after Pacino, who took the lead at the top of the straight. The victory was one of the best of Melham's career.

''We got a nice run throughout and we were able to get on Pacino's back at the right time then he quickened up well. Shocking came to me, but once he sensed that he found another gear. It was a nice win,'' Melham said.

Wilde said Baughurst would be given his chance to snare an elusive group 1 weight-for-age win in the Mackinnon Stakes on derby day before a well-earned spell.

Today's Runners

• Zedina Lady
• Fasmoss
• Arch Symbol
• Floridian