A deteriorating Sandown track proved no problem for Full Peal who recorded his fourth straight win on Saturday.
Sandown was the scene of Warrnambool trainer Bill Wilde’s career best win two weeks ago when So Swift took out the Group Two Sandown Guineas.
Full Peal winning the Corey Gilby Memorial Handicap at Sandown - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
Full Peal had recorded two wins at Warrnambool and one at Geelong this campaign leading into the Corey Gilbey Memorial Hcp (1800m).
The race was one of several around the country on Saturday named in the memory of jockey Corey Gilbey who died earlier this month from injuries received in a fall.
Wilde said he wasn’t sure how the Clangalang five-year-old gelding would handle the heavy conditions.
“I would have been super confident if the track had been dry today,” said Wilde who co-trains the gelding with his son Symon.
“He showed a really good turn of foot in his last few runs but today was a grinding effort and I was very proud of him.”
Full Peal beat Abitofado by 2-1/2 lengths on the heavy (8) track which began the day as a good (3).
Wilde said So Swift, who was spelled immediately after his upset Guineas win, would be set for the 2012 South Australian Derby in May.
“I think that’s his chance to perhaps win a Group One,” Wilde said.
AAP TURF
