The race was spoilt by a fall to equal-favourite Valac,but the Ben and JD Hayes-trained grey appeared fine post-race,and walked onto a float. Racing Victoria stewards said the grey,who won over the hurdles during the May carnival last year,would be sent to the veterinary clinic for monitoring. His jockey Aaron Mitchell was a little dazed and initially thought to have escaped injury,however,was later transferred to the Warrnambool Base Hospital for scans on his wrist.
It was an inspiring race,nonetheless,with Wilde’s grey and pink silks - donned by his 2018 Brierly champion Gold Medals - filling the photo on the winning post.
Britannicus took up the lead and led by as much as 12 lengths at one point,but the small field made ground on him approaching the final turn,and after Valac fell,Vanguard was the only threat to the leader.
Will Gordon elected to go inside the Aaron Mitchell-ridden Britannicus in the final straight,and whether or not the ground was better,the more fancied stablemate rose late to give Wilde his fourth win for the day. Wilde later had his fifth winner,in the second last race,with As I Please.
“It was a great battle,” Gordon said.