Fresh from a win in the Grand Annual Steeplechase, Warrnambool trainer Aaron Purcell is hoping to add another country racing feature to his record at Swan Hill on Friday.
Purcell won last month’s Grand Annual with veteran jumper Instigator and he saddles up Dashing in the $150,000 Golden Topaz over 1200 metres on Friday.
Dashing and Purcell are no strangers to Swan Hill — they combined to win the Swan Hill Cup (1600m) last year after taking the Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool’s May carnival.
The Group 1-winning trainer bypassed this year’s Wangoom, preferring to save the six-year-old for a first-up tilt at the Topaz.
“He’s had a couple of gallops over the last few weeks,” Purcell said. “I’ve preferred to keep him on the fresh side. 
“He has very good first-up form and that should be a bonus for him in the Golden Topaz. 
“We gave him a good break following last year’s Winter Championship final in July as he had a little leg injury, but he’s over that now.”
Dashing, a winner of $938,675 from 38 starts, will be one of “eight or nine” runners for Purcell at the three-day Swan Hill carnival.
“We really love going up,” he said. “It’s a bit like a working holiday for us but I’m sure we’ll be kept pretty busy.”
In other stable news, Purcell revealed Instigator is enjoying retirement following his Grand Annual Steeplechase victory.
“It was like a fairytale,” he said. “The win was incredible and to have Braidon Small riding him was extra special for everyone. 
“Instigator is loving life. I saw him the other morning and he’s in great order.”
Quinny treks north
Veteran trainer Quinton Scott is another fan of the Swan Hill Cup carnival and he’ll be making his annual trek this weekend, albeit with perhaps only one runner.
“I’ve lost count how many years I’ve been going to the Swan Hill carnival,” said Crossley-based Scott. 
“The first time was when I’d just started training at Benalla. 
“It’s always a great event. It gives you the chance to catch up with old friends.”
Scott and wife Barb have scaled back numbers in their stable in preparation for a move back to Benalla to be closer to family.
Maiden three-year-old Bungowannah Rocks may be the team’s only runner at the Swan Hill carnival this year.
Wil on track for Straddy
Woolsthorpe-bred galloper Another Wil will be out to double his Group 1 tally in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.
Another Wil showed a return to form with a fourth placing in last Saturday’s $1 million Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm. The second-up performance pleased trainer Ciaron Maher.
“I was very happy with his effort,” Maher said. “He’s back in form. He needed the second-up run to have him ready. 
“Full credit to Jamie Melham — it was a brilliant ride in the Kingsford Smith. We’d decided to push forward at the start and that paid dividends. I’d say we’ll use the same tactics in the Stradbroke. 
“I’m sure he’ll improve a lot with the run under his belt. The Stradbroke is the race we’ve targeted him at this campaign.”
Another Wil’s Group 1 victory came in the 2025 C.F. Orr Stakes. From his 20 starts, the six-year-old has won nine races and earned more than $1.8 million.