John Wheeler says he has a leaning to Petushki over Banner Strand as he shoots for his fifth Grand Annual Steeplechase victory at Warrnambool.Petushki, runner-up to Riva San in the 2008 Group One Queensland Derby (2400m), is the form horse going into Thursday's gruelling 5500m feature over 33 fences.Now a six-year-old, the Golan gelding was runner-up by a neck to Tuesday's Brierly Steeplechase winner Vindicating in the Von Doussa Steeple at Oakbank on Easter Saturday.He backed up two days later
John Wheeler says he has a leaning to Petushki over Banner Strand as he shoots for his fifth Grand Annual Steeplechase victory at Warrnambool.
Petushki, runner-up to Riva San in the 2008 Group One Queensland Derby (2400m), is the form horse going into Thursday's gruelling 5500m feature over 33 fences.
Now a six-year-old, the Golan gelding was runner-up by a neck to Tuesday's Brierly Steeplechase winner Vindicating in the Von Doussa Steeple at Oakbank on Easter Saturday.
He backed up two days later to beat Banner Strand by 5-1/4 lengths in the Great Eastern Steeple (4950m) at the same track giving the legendary New Zealand trainer his eighth win in that race.
"I'm really happy with both of them. They both came through Oakbank well. I just hope we don't have any bad luck, that's all," Wheeler said.
Wheeler has already won the race four times with Foxboy (1997), the Sundance Kid (1998), Frankoo Verymuch (2005) and Real Tonic (2006).
"They both trialled really well here on Sunday. I wasn't here but Scotty (assistant trainer Brett Scott) was really happy with them and they're both going into the race cherry-ripe," Wheeler said.
"Petushki is not an aggressive horse. He's a real casual, laid-back horse and I have a lot of time for him.
"Banner Strand still has to do it. I lean to Petushki but the other horse has been working super."
There will be a tinge of sadness for Wheeler if he happens to be successful in the race again as Scott, who he has combined with to win his four Grand Annuals, is injured and his career in the saddle is in doubt.
Kiwi Richard Eynon stays with Petushki while Rowan Waymouth will pilot Banner Strand.
Last year's winner, the Ciaron Maher-trained Al Garhood is topweight with 69kg and the 11-year-old has to give 3.5kg to Petushki and 2.5kg to Vindicating.
The rest of the 11-horse field on the minimum weight (64kg).
Apart from Wheeler, trainer Robbie Laing is the only other trainer with multiple runners, headed by Vindicating.
Laing said his horses had all done well since Tuesday's Brierly and he had taken them down to the beach on Wednesday morning a day ahead.
Racing Victoria, meanwhile, revealed that Shine The Amour, who died in a fall at the second last jump in the first division of the maiden hurdle at Warrnambool on Tuesday, had suffered a fractured neck.