Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.
A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.
Nichole Searle sampled the excitement of Andrew Ramsden glory as Sir Kingsford raced at Flemington the day The Map secured the Melbourne Cup qualifier in 2024.
She accompanied The Map co-trainer Oopy MacGillivray on the trip and took part in the victory celebrations, even though she missed the on-track win by the mare.
"Sir Kingsford ran earlier in the day, so I travelled over with Oopy and I know a few of the owners that live out Mallala way," Searle said.
"There was this hype around her, and everyone was so excited, that she was going there, and then when she won, the hype in South Australia was just fantastic.
"I wasn't there when the horse won, but when Oopy got back, we were out at Ballarat, we had a pretty good night of celebrations."
The triumph of The Map motivated Sir Kingsford's connections to chase comparable success.
Last year, Sir Kingsford captured the Port Adelaide Cup, but after a demanding season, the team opted to rest the stayer.
This campaign marks Sir Kingsford's sixth start.
"We all want to try and emulate something like that, getting to a nice big race," Searle said.
"Sir Kingsford is probably the sort of horse that can take that step, take us to a nice race.
"Hopefully, the Andrew Ramsden is that on Saturday."
In the Port Adelaide Cup at Morphettville on May 2, Sir Kingsford trailed another Andrew Ramsden entrant, Alainge.
According to Searle, the stayer has thrived post that run and worked with Saturday's jockey Teegan Voorham earlier in the week.
"He's had a few trips across now, so the travel shouldn't bother him," Searle said.
"He always eats pretty well, so fingers crossed all goes well with him.
"We thought we'd have a throw at the stumps and see where we land."
Head to online bookmakers for the latest racing betting markets ahead of Sir Kingsford's tilt at the Andrew Ramsden Stakes.
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