A PLAN to plot a path along the rails worked perfectly for Warrnambool owned and trained Hissing Sid and gifted the talented galloper a second consecutive listed TAB big6 Warrnambool Cup (2350m) yesterday.
Happy Winning connections of the 2010 Warrnambool Cup.
Hissing Sid was second-last past the winning post the first time and jockey Ben Melham sought inside runs with the five-year-old gelding, eventually joining the Jarrod McLean-trained $81 chance Cruyfforme on the home turn.
The smart stayer then set sail for home and smashed the opposition to win by four-and-a-half lengths from the brave Cruyfforme with top weight Light Vision ($6.50) another length-and-three-quarters away third.
The victory elevated Hissing Sid into elite company, becoming the first horse since Puramaka (1977-78) to win consecutive Warrnambool Cups. He became just the sixth horse to achieve the feat in the Cup's 137-year history.
Bill Wilde who trains in partnership with his son Symon, revealed after the cup that Melham believed the inside of the track was the place to be while many other jockeys were seeking better ground out wide.
Hissing Sid saved a mile of ground not going around a horse and now looks likely to be set for a trip to the Queensland winter carnival in an attempt to qualify for the $6 million Melbourne Cup in November.
Wilde senior said the horse affectionately known as 'Sid' would be eyeing a group race in Brisbane.
"It's the right move for him now," Wilde said.
"We need to raise our sights and try and get him to Group or Black Type races, that's what we are trying to achieve. The time is right.
"There are some nice races up there, if he can do that well and I have no reason to believe he won't, then it's the spring carnival."
RVL chief handicapper Greg Carpenter said Hissing Sid's win meant he had met the first qualification criteria for the Caulfield and Melbourne cups.
"Undoubtedly, his impressive win will see him weighted slightly up on last year's weight for both races," Carpenter said.
Wilde said it was marvellous to win back-to-back cups and was quick to pay tribute to Symon.
"Symon and Ben were very keen to stick to the fence because they thought the going there was a lot better than everyone else thought," he said.
"The plan came together beautifully.
''It's great to win again. Symon has done a great job with this horse, we have a super staff and a great group of owners."
Symon Wilde said it was sensational to win the cup again, especially after there were a couple of queries about Hissing Sid going into the race.
"There's not a lot gone right this week but to win our hometown cup again is a big thrill. To win again we feel really blessed," he said.
Melham said he had the run of the race and the cup panned out just the way he had hoped.
"It's great to win for Symon and Bill.