54 Gold Medals (Elvstroem - Lady Mulroy) The Warrnambool wonder horse Gold Medals competed at nine of the ten May Carnivals from 2012 to 2021, missing in 2013 when he contested the South Australian Derby. He won his first start, a two-year-old maiden here in April 2012, and his last, the 2021 Grand Annual. “Elvis”, a prizefighter with an incredible nature, was a true gentleman around the Wilde stables. Gold Medals won the Champion Novice Hurdle in 2016 and competed over fences at the next five May Carnivals. He finished sixth, to Zed Em, in the 2017 Brierly at his steeplechasing debut. In 2018 he won the Brierly, from Zed Em, and repeated that performance in the Annual, winning by 0.1 lengths after a ding-dong tussle up the straight with Zed Em. In 2019 Zed Em turned the tables on the local hero. In 2020, there was again not much separating Gold Medals (2nd) and Zed Em (3rd) in the Annual, but they were beaten by the Ciaron Maher trained Ablaze. The old warriors crowned their annual rivalry last year, going toe-to-toe in the Annual for a fourth successive year. Zed Em was brave in leading for much of the race but could not hold Gold Medals in the closing stages. There were again wild celebrations in the mounting yard as Symon Wilde and his team celebrated Elvis’ first win since the 2018 renewal. In five jumps runs in the interim he had finished second in two Grand Annuals, two Australian Steeplechases and a Brierly. The win was another triumph for rider Clayton Douglas. Gold Medals became the first horse to have four top two finishes in the Annual, and the only dual winner to have won the race more than two years apart. In 82 starts Gold Medals accumulated 13 wins, 15 seconds, 9 thirds, and won $1,129,165. He had 19 starts over jumps for 7 wins, 7 seconds and 2 thirds. We salute one of our greatest May Carnival heroes as he leads the field out for the Grand Annual. Mark McNamara: April 2022
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