SYMON Wilde’s third Programmed China Bowl could be his most impressive yet, with the Warrnambool trainer nursing seven-year-old gelding Mannopoly back from a two year hiatus to claim the Wimmera’s richest race.
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Wilde previously won the $75,000 feature race with Fasmoss (2010) and Full Peel (2012), which he trained with his father Bill.
Jockey Jack Hill rode Full Peel to victory two years earlier for the Wildes and again teamed with Symon to salute last Sunday.
Following the race Hill said it was a credit to the stable, which has successfully overseen Mannopoly’s recovery from a recurring tendon injury to record two wins from two starts this campaign.
“Symon and Bill — I know Bill doesn’t have too much to do with it now — but they are fantastic trainers who have great facilities down in Warrnambool,” he said.
“That enables them to bring horses back from injuries and to go from two years off like this one to get them back into the winning circle is a big thing.
“Last Saturday I thought his win was super, after two years off to win first up was huge. Today he just had a lovely run, good turn of foot and he almost got there too early because when I got there he just pinned his ears and wanted to pull up on me, but he got the job done which was good.”
Mannopoly, $20, was out of favour with the punters at NMIT Ararat Park, with Peter Moody’s runner River Delta the short priced favourite at $1.50 when the race got underway.
The four-year-old mare was one of the first out of the barriers, however it was Ventic (Byron Cozamanis) which took up the lead and set a cracking pace early into the 1300-metre journey.
Mannopoly slotted into fourth position on the rail as the race progressed, while Ventic had opened up a three length lead as the field cornered the home straight.
River Delta looked to be struggling at the 300-metre mark, with Hill guiding Mannopoly past the favourite into second place before hitting the front with 100 metres left for home. The hoop held that position to win by three quarters of a length to Ventic, with River Delta in a close third from Koe (Terry O’Sullivan).
Bill Wilde, who is a part owner in the horse, said the China Bowl win exceeded his and Symon’s expectations.
“We were very confident that he would improve. To win first up after two years off was a very good effort at Hamilton, he surprised us a bit there and today we thought probably he was more of a place chance than a winning one,” he said.
“I think everything worked out well, we drew a nice gate and he just had a lovely run.
“There was quite frenetic speed on early and he might have got there a bit soon — he star gazed a little bit in the last hundred metres — but he still ran to the line beautifully.”
Wilde said the horse is likely now to be headed for a race in town.
“We have a lot of horses in work, but perhaps none of this calibre,” he said.
“We didn’t have one runner over the week at Flemington, but it is great to come here to Ararat, it is a lovely race to win and just acknowledge all the work that Symon has done.”
Mannopoly’s win in the China Bowl capped off a superb day for the Wilde stable, with Symon training three winners, as well as a second and a third placing.
For a full wrap-up of the Brookfield Ararat Gold Cup Race Day, see page 35.
