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Trainer Steven Burridge will be looking for his second success in the Group 2 $300,000 Chairman’s Trophy over 1800m on Sunday when he saddles-up Wild Geese.

Burridge last took out the Chairman’s Trophy in 2007 with Trigger Express.

A last start second behind Better Life in the Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby over 2000m, Wild Geese will be ridden by John Powell who flies out following Sunday’s meeting to ride in the Darwin Cup in the Northern Territory of Australia on Monday in which he has been engaged for the ride on Generous Beau in the 2000m contest.

Wild Geese will be at a disadvantage under the weight-for-age conditions of Sunday’s race but comes into the race in excellent form.

Last year’s winner Chase Me is back to defend his crown. Chase Me was coming off an eight-length win in the Derby before his Chairman’s Trophy victory.

Burridge said Wild Geese had pulled-up well following his Derby placing and had trained on well on the track.

“He ran so well in the Derby,” said Burridge. “He’s an up-and-coming and promising sort of horse that deserves his chance in a race like this but he’s not too well off under the weight-for-age conditions.

“Still he’s fit and in-form and deserves to be given the chance at this sort of race.”

Burridge and Powell have teamed successfully together previously but on a limited basis due to Powell riding mainly for the Baertschiger family – firstly Don and in more recent times his son Shane.

“Johnny’s a good rider but I can’t always get him,” said Burridge. “He’s tied up with Shane most of the time.

“When I have had the opportunity to use him we’ve had some success and in some nice races as well.”

Besides being represented by Wild Geese in the Chairman’s Trophy, Burridge will have Hot Aristocrat racing in the Group 3 $200,000 Juvenile Championship over 1200m on Sunday.

Wild Geese and Hot Aristocrat are both owned by Hippocrates Stable that also has Silver Dollar, trained by Sam Chua, engaged in the Juvenile Championship.

Powell will be aboard Silver Dollar, a debut winner back in March, while leading apprentice A’Isisuhairi (Harry) Kasim will have the ride aboard Hot Aristocrat.

Burridge said Hot Aristocrat taking his place in the Juvenile Championship was a change of plans after the gelding was Malaysia bound for a spell following his debut fourth behind Rusty Brown in a 1200m Two-Year-Old contest last Sunday.

“He was booked on the float to go to Malaysia on Wednesday,” said Burridge. “He’s backing-up quickly from last week but we decided to run him because of the small field.

“It’s a classy field, but we’ve decided to run because it is a race with good prizemoney and too hard bypass.

“He was probably a little disappointing first-up. He’s still developing and is immature at this stage and that is why he was booked to go for a spell.

“The next float doesn’t go to Malaysia for another three weeks or so, so we’ll see how he goes on Sunday and make a decision after that.”