Trainer to build statue if freshman wins Final

SOUTH Australian trainer Kevin Von Duve stated he will commission a monument in Buildthemanastatue’s honour if he emerges triumphant on Saturday night.

A handy fourth in an Australian Pacing Gold Prelude in Kilmore last week, Buildthemanastatue is poised to contest the Sales Series Final in Melton.

Success would see Buildthemanastatue collect $50,000, which is almost as much as the Glencoe-based Von Duve has earned in a season since since gaining his licence in 1985.

Von Duve’s most successful year was 2023 when his team banked $57,811 – the result of nine wins and 11 placings from 56 starts.

“If he wins the Final I’ll get some sort of statue of him,” Von Duve joked. “It’ll be my biggest win in more than 40 years in the sport, so I’ll have to do something to mark it.

“You don’t get an opportunity to run in a $100,000 race very often, and here we are with a one-in-six chance on Saturday night.

“Pretty much everything will have to go his way to win, but we’re in it and that’s the first step.”

To be driven by caretaker trainer Lochie Cook, Buildthemanastatue has drawn barrier two, with the hot favourite, Cardigan Sniper, to begin from the pole.

Cardigan Sniper had the same draw when he led throughout the prelude in 2:00.4 over a rainsoaked 1690 metres.

“I just had my hip replacement, so Lochie is looking after a couple of my horses,” Von Duve said. “All going well, I’ll be home Thursday morning and I will try to get to Melton, but I don’t think I will make it.

“He was first-up for 10 weeks in the Prelude, so he needed the run and will improve this week, but he will certainly need to.

“Lochie is very happy with him and expects a good run.”