Tough Warrnambool jumper Gold Medals is on track for a third crack at the Grand Annual Steeplechase in 2020.
Gold Medals ran second to Zed Em in this year’s Grand Annual, having completed the Brierly-Grand Annual double at the 2018 May carnival.
Trainer Symon Wilde says the 10-year-old is in light work, with only a sparse program planned for him in 2020.
“Gold Medals had a good break and he’s come back into work in top condition,” he said. 
“He’ll go down the same path in the lead-up to the Grand Annual as the last two years. We haven’t overtaxed him. He’ll have a couple of flat runs and then we’ll look at the Brierly and the Grand Annual again. 
“He’s a stable favourite and seems to love jumps races at Warrnambool.”
From 17 jumps starts Gold Medals has six wins and eight minor placings.
Kingsley claims cup
Prominent Macarthur owner Kingsley Peach added another country cup to his mantelpiece when the Terry O’Sullivan-trained Patch Adams ($3.50) won last Friday’s $50,000 Mount Gambier Cup on Friday.
Patch Adams, ridden by apprentice Will Price, defeated Emil and Henry the Dolphin in the 2400-metre staying test.
Peach’s gallopers have previously won country cups at Mildura, Swan Hill, Horsham, Murtoa, St Arnaud, Warracknabeal and Ararat.
This was Patch Adams’s third cup, after successes at Colac (2017) and Casterton (2018).
“It’s wonderful,” Peach said. “I’ve got lots of friends in Mount Gambier and a few of them were at the cup meeting, which was great. 
“I’ve haven’t owned a Warrnambool Cup or Hamilton Cup winner yet — they’re two races that are on my wishlist.
“Terry has trained horses for me for more than 35 years. Apart from being my horse trainer he’s a great mate.”
O’Sullivan is considering running Patch Adams in the $160,000 Bagot Handicap at Flemington on January 1.
“I suppose he deserves a crack at the Bagot,” the Stawell-based trainer said. 
“He’s an honest type of horse — not brilliant, just honest. We gave him a couple of hurdle starts this season and may do the same next year.”
The win was O’Sullivan’s third in the Mount Gambier Cup. His previous winners were Rules Galore and Stable Star.
Connections toast Kim
Woolsthorpe resident Kim Williams lost her life to cancer on September 7 this year but her memory lives on through Ballarat mare Woolsthorpe Reign, in whom she was a part-owner.
The four-year-old broke through for her maiden win at the Mount Gambier meeting, at her fourth start.
Janice McKenna, who bred the Street Boss mare, said the win was an emotional one for the connections.
“I’ll never forget Kim came and saw Woolsthorpe Reign when she was a foal and just fell in love with her,” McKenna said. “Kim was an avid racing fan. She just loved going to the races and she took a share in Woolsthorpe Reign but sadly only saw her have the two starts. The mare has been a slow-maturing horse who’s needed time. 
“We (owners) had a celebration drink after the win in remembrance of Kim.”
The Mitch Freedman-trained Woolsthorpe Reign picked up $9500 for her win.
Rhoda returns
It was great to see respected Ararat trainer Rhoda Handyside back in the winner’s stall after Goodbuy ($13) won a maiden first up at Stawell on Saturday. 
Having his fifth start, the lightly raced six-year-old had to survive a protest to keep the 1100-metre sprint. 
Handyside has only been back training since May after a six-year break. 
Her last winner before Goodbuy was Whymol at Mount Gambier in September 2012. 
Handyside is best known for training Thackeray to win the Grand Annual Steeplechase in 1979 and 1980.
Peterson battles pain
Awaiting hip and knee surgery, Warrnambool trainer Allan Peterson is unlikely to be back to full fitness until the middle of 2020.
Atomic Wings, the only horse Peterson has in work, ran third in a maiden at Mount Gambier last Friday as a $61 chance.
“I was happy with the effort,” the former top local jockey said. 
“I’ll probably take her to Penshurst for a maiden race on Boxing Day. I think the Penshurst track will suit her.”
Peterson, who won four Penshurst Cups as a jockey in the 1970s and ’80s, said the wear and tear of a long riding career were starting to take a toll on his body.
“My left hip and left knee are pretty sore,” he said. “It looks like the hip will be done in March and the knee six weeks later. There are some days when the pain in both is terrible.”