Chuffed is how Symon Wilde sounded after a decision to take a near exact same approach as was done a year earlier saw Aurora’s Symphony claim a second Group 3 Launceston Cup (2400m).
Prior to winning this race in 2022, the now seven-year-old’s lead-in run winning the Colac Cup (2000m) twelve days earlier.
Making the trip to Colac again in 2023 and winning, the gelding has completed an unusual double, twice.
“We were toying with running in the Hobart Cup,” Wilde said of that Group 3 event run on February 12.
“But we went too deep into the spring last year so we thought why not do what we did last year and see if it can be done again.
“I can’t believe it as all come together this way.”
Bought for $40,000 at the 2018 Melbourne VOBIS Gold Sale by Symon’s father, Bill, Aurora’s Symphony’s prizemoney now exceeds $650,000.
“You’d love to own a horse like that,” Wilde adds.
The single difference between the wins was while Dean Yendall was in the saddle last year, Blaike Mcdougall took the ride this time as a ‘pick-up’ two days earlier.
“We were very fortunate to draw barrier one,” McDougall said.
“The way he travelled in the run he was never going to get beaten.
“When I decided to go, Military Mission dropped out and I thought this is a bit too easy and to Symon’s credit he’s brought this horse back 12 months later, duplicated his runs, and it is a big training performance.”
Wilde says that pressing ahead, again, to the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) on March 13 is the next step as he was also satisfied with the horse’s performance there last year finishing seventh.
“He was right there last year so to go again seems the way to go.”
Aurora’s Symphony ($6 at betr) won by a ½-length margin over Rising Light ($31) and Spirit Ridge ($3.60) a short-head away in third.
