Local trainer Symon Wilde could have as many as three starters in Australia’s longest flat race, the Jericho Cup at Warrnambool.
First run in 2018, Wilde won the 4600m contest that carries $300,000 in prize money with Count Zero in 2020 who is set to line up again on Sunday along with Bazini while Star Stock is a possibility of sneaking into the final field of 14 plus four emergencies.
Wilde said the consolation race over 4065m with $60,000 in prize money was more likely for Star Stock who runs at Terang on Monday.
The trainer is confident Bazini and Count Zero are in the right order to tackle the 4600m journey after finishing second and sixth respectively at Sandown over 2400m last Wednesday.
“He’s proven at the distance, and he wasn’t too bad at Sandown,” Wilde said of Count Zero.
“When he won it, he had two so-so runs over 2000 metres and came out and won, and to get qualified he ran last over 2000 metres at The Valley then won over 3000 metres at Warrnambool.
“We know him, so I wouldn’t take too much notice of his form, but I thought he finished off alright at Sandown the other day.”
Wilde said Bazini had been purchased as a yearling with the Victoria Derby (2500m) in mind.
But from the outset Bazini showed Wilde he would not be quick enough for that three-year-old staying contest and believes the now five-year-old has found his niche.
“We bought him to win a Derby, but he took too much time and was too slow,” Wilde said.
“Thankfully in Victoria we cater for these horses.
“We had a speed gene test done and it showed he was an extreme stayer, but the way he is going he could even end up in Adelaide Cup now.
“He might end up better than we give him credit for as he’s putting together a pretty good record.”
Star Stock is the younger brother to the Wilde-trained Tralee Rose.
The trainer went to purchase him as a yearling for $100,000, but he sold for $160,000.
“That was fine, but we bought him back online for $9000 two years later,” Wilde said.
“He’s won a race for us, but we bought him with a jumping career in mind and for this race, and if he ends up in that repechage, that’s where he needs to be.”