Top Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde landed his first Thackeray Steeplechase winner at his home track last Sunday.
Golden Garden, a $2.05 favourite trained by Wilde and ridden by Dean Parker, hung on to beat Mr Lincoln and The Mighty Spar in the 3450-metre feature.
Wilde now only needs a Galleywood Hurdle winner to complete a clean sweep of jumps features at Warrnambool, having won Grand Annual Steeplechases, Brierly Steeplechases and a Lafferty Hurdle. 
“It’s great to get a Thackeray Steeplechase next to our name,” Wilde said. “I’ve got to give credit to all our staff. 
“The strange thing is I’ve never had many Galleywood runners. I suppose we’d better target a few more runners at the Galleywood and try to make it a clean sweep.”
Wilde was full of praise for Golden Garden, an eight-year-old who has had four starts over the big fences for a third and three straight wins. 
“He put in a near-faultless display of jumping and Dean is a very underrated jockey. It’s great to have him as part of our team. 
“Now we’ve got a find a way to get Golden Garden into this year’s Grand National (Steeplechase). 
“Originally I thought he might struggle at the 4500 metres but now I think he might run the distance. He’s an improving type of jumper.”
In other stable news, Wilde revealed tough jumper/stayer Count Zero has been retired after 70 starts.
Count Zero won 11 races including the 2020 Jericho Cup and the 2024 Grand Annual. 
“He was a great horse for our stable and his owners,” Wilde said. 
“There was a lack of suitable races for him. He didn’t like wet tracks, which made him hard to place.”
Count Zero had failed to finish on heavy tracks at his last two starts, in the Grand Annual and the Australian Steeplechase.
Originally trained by Darren Weir, Count Zero retired with $737,840 in prizemoney to his credit.
Ryan lowers sights
Promising Tower Hill jumper Mr Lincoln is likely to get a drop in class for his next steeplechase start. 
Mr Lincoln ($4.20) ran a gallant second to Golden Garden in Sunday’s $100,000 Thackeray Steeplechase at Warrnambool, but trainer Chris Ryan is setting his sights lower for the seven-year-old, on a $35,000 maiden ’chase at Hamilton on Sunday week, July 12.
“I was really happy with his run in the Thackeray,” Ryan said. “It was a very good effort against open-class ’chasers. 
“The maiden ’chase at Hamilton looks ideal for his next start. 
“The 3400 metres really should suit the horse as I think he’s going to improve in longer races.”
Ferago a fast learner
Local jumps jockey Daniel Small guided Ferago to an easy win in Sunday’s $35,000 Merlin Powering Garage Doors BM115 Hurdle (3200m) at Warrnambool.
The Patrick Ryan-trained Ferago started a $1.80 favourite and beat Zinovation by 15 lengths in what was a three-horse race.
“Ferago is a very good jumper,” Small said. “I’m grateful to Patrick for giving me the opportunity to ride him. It’s a pretty special win for me and Ferago — our first victory at Warrnambool.”
Ryan indicated a start in the $250,000 Grand National Hurdle at Sandown on Sunday August 2 may be on the agenda.
“I understand he’s a first-season jumper but I think he’s above average,” he said.
“There’s a restricted hurdle at Coleraine on Sunday July 19 and it looks an ideal lead-in to the Grand National.”
Ferago took his prizemoney bank to $673,720 with Sunday’s win.
Andy’s on the rise
Aided by a brilliant ride from top jumps jockey Tom Ryan, the Shane Jackson-trained Andy Win scored an impressive win in Sunday’s $100,000 Lafferty Hurdle at Warrnambool.
Andy Win ($2.70) defeated $2.40 favourite Mr Waterville by 11 lengths.
Sunday’s victory is Andy Win’s third from four starts over hurdles and his first feature win.
Irish expat Ryan, who has been on the lightly raced five-year-old for his three jumps wins, said Andy Win was improving with each jumping start.
Ardakan impresses
Jockey Martin Kelly believes Ardakan will develop into a handy steeplechaser.
Kelly rode the Ciaron Maher-trained Ardakan to a commanding win in the Midland Irrigation Maiden Hurdle (3200m) at Sunday’s Warrnambool meeting, his first win on a Maher-trained horse. 
Ardakan ($2.30) was having his fifth hurdle start. He beat $2.25 favourite Gripping by 15 lengths.
“I was quite impressed,” Kelly said. “I thought he was going to win a long way out. I think with a bit of time he should develop into a good ’chaser. ”