Local trainer Symon Wilde took out an impressive double on Thursday as the 2021 Warrnambool May Racing Carnival came to a close.

Gold Medals won his second Grand Annual Steeplechase, one of Australia's premier jumps races, when duking it out with old rival Zed Em over the final 600m of the 5500m.

The two wily veterans filled the quinella in the same race in 2018 and 2019, winning one apiece, but now the ledger favours Wilde's runner.

The trainer was keeping his cards close to his chest in regards to Gold Medals returning in 12 months' time for one last crack at the Grand Annual before he is made to retire at the end of his 12-year-old campaign.

“He's an amazing horse, he really is. To turn up as much as he has… I'm grateful to have him,” a choked up Wilde said post race.

“The staff at home, we all love him. He comes in year after year, he's almost like a pet.”

Gold Medals had a 2.5kg weight swing on Zed Em, and that proved the difference towards the tail end of the 5500m as the 11-year-old got up by a length.

“He's just an unbelievable horse,” winning jockey Clayton Douglas said.

It was the second time that Douglas had teamed up with Gold Medals for the Grand Annual, with the fiance to star Australian jockey Jamie Kah stealing the limelight for 24 hours from his better half.

Wilde needn't wait much longer for his next winner, as Ammoudi Bay took out the Kia Handicap in the very next race.

It was a good week for the local trainers as Wilde and Lindsey Smith finished the carnival with four winners each, as did the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace team.