The Victorians will be out to plunder their second feature staying race in Sydney this month when Full Peal lines up in Monday’s Group Three Summer Cup.
Just over two weeks after Sea Galleon made a successful hit-and-run raid on the Listed Christmas Cup, in-form Victorian Full Peal will head to Sydney for the Boxing Day feature at Rosehill.
Co-trainer Symon Wilde admitted Sea Galleon’s triumph stoked their fires and gave them confidence in the Melbourne staying form.
“It did. They’re similar types of horses and they’ve both won well down this way,” Wilde said.
“We watched him win and thought perhaps the stayers there (in Sydney) at this time of year aren’t terrific.”
Wilde, who trains alongside his father Bill, considered next month’s Perth Cup and the Launceston and Hobart Cups for Full Peal but decided Sydney was a better target.
“We just thought it was a nice opportunity to travel with him,” Symon Wilde said.
“The trip isn’t too far and the timing is perfect.”
Full Peal has been a revelation this campaign.
He has strung together five consecutive victories, culminating in impressive wins at Sandown and Flemington at his past two runs.
Wilde said the addition of blinkers and natural maturity had been the key to his purple patch of form.
“He has always possessed a lot of ability but he was one of the greenest young horses we’ve ever had,” Wilde said.
“He’s been a slow-maturing horse but with blinkers and time he’s learned how to race properly.”
Full Peal will step up to 2400 metres for the first time on Monday but Wilde doesn’t expect that to be an issue.
He is just hoping the five-year-old handles his first interstate trip and measures up to stakes company.
Glyn Schofield, who won the Christmas Cup aboard Sea Galleon, will be in the saddle.
And Schofield’s manager, Mark Van Triet, will no doubt be in for a sling if Full Peal salutes.
“Mark rang and said, `What are you doing with this horse? You should consider this race in Sydney’,” Wilde said.
“So we had a look and it fitted in perfectly for us. That’s why we came.”
AAP TURF
